Queen Victoria, the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle ... and John Brown.

On 1 September 1842 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert landed at Grandton Pier for their first glimpse of Scotland.

They were to visit Edimburgh ed eventually the Highlands, 'where no Sovereign of England has ever been since the Union & non perhaps before, excepting Charles II'. More than thirty years later, when the queen was visiting Glencoe, she felt, 'a sort of reverence in going over these scenes, in this most beautiful country, which I am proud to call my own, where there was such a loyalty to the family of my ancestors. For Stuart blood is in my veins & I am now, their representative & the people are as devoted & loyal to me as they where to that unhappy Race'.

Delia Millar, Luncheon at Cairn Lochan by Caarl Haag, 1865, from QUEEN VICTORIA'S Life in the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS depicted by her watercolour artists, Philip Wilson Publishers Limited, London, 1985, table XXII

Morning in the Highlands- the royal family ascending Lochnagar by Carl Haag, 1853, detail

Il 1 settembre 1842 la Regina Vittoria e il Principe Albert atterrarono a Grandton Pier per il loro primo 'assaggio' di Scozia. Avevano l'intenzione di visitare Edimburgo ed infine le Highlands, 'dove nessun sovrano d'Inghilterra era mai stato da quando l'Unione esisteva e forse neppure prima, eccetto Carlo II'. Più di trent'anni dopo, quando la regina era in visita a Glencoe, riferisce di aver avvertito, 'una sorta di riverenza nell'addentrarmi in questi scenari, in questo paese talmente bello, che sono orgogliosa di definire mio, dove c'era una tale fedeltà alla famiglia dei miei antenati. Poiché il sangue Stuart scorre tutt'ora nelle mie vene e sono tuttora loro rappresentante il popolo è devoto e leale con me come fu a suo tempo con quell'infelice Gente '. 19

Tanto Victoria quanto il Principe Albert rimasero entusiasti di questo loro primo viaggio in una terra ancora sconosciuta, ed il fascino che essi colsero promanava sia dalla natura talmente caratteristica del paesaggio che dal temperamento ancora così spontaneo degli abitanti;
"Al loro ritorno al sud, il Principe Alberto scrisse a sua nonna: "La Scozia ha fatto un'ottima impressione su entrambi; il paese è davvero molto bello, anche se duro e maestoso, perfetto per sport di ogni tipo (Egli aveva soprattutto in mente la caccia al cervo) l'aria notevolmente pura e leggera rispetto a quella che abbiamo qui. Le persone sono più naturali, e contraddistinte dall'onestà e dalla semplicità che da sempre caratterizzano gli abitanti dei paesi di montagna, che sono lontano dalla città'." 2

Queen Victoria Sketching at Loch Laggan by Sir Edwin Landseer, 1847

In un luogo talmente affascinante, in cui per numerose volte ancora si recarono i sovrani dal 1842 al 1848, non rimaneva che trovare una dimora in cui poter alloggiare durante i periodi di caccia e di vacanza con l'intera famiglia; la scelta cadde sul vecchio Balmoral Castle edificato originariamente da Sir William Drummond nel 1390

Balmoral Castle, drawn by W.Leitch, engraved by J.Godfrey, edited 1875

acquistato dal Principe Albert, pur senza averlo mai visto prima, il 17 febbraio 1848 e l'8 settembre del medesimo anno Egli e la Sua Regina arrivarono a prendere possesso dell'intera proprietà, avviando una serie di lunghe trattative che si conclusero solamente il 22 giugno 1852 quando dell'intera tenuta divennero gli effettivi ed unici proprietari; una volta che la totalità del terreno fu acquistato, il Principe Albert decise di ricostruire l'antico edificio non era ritenuto da lui adeguato alle esigenze della sua grande famiglia e, scelto William Smith di Aberdeen quale architetto più qualificato, egli gli fece costruire un nuovo edificio situato a 100 metri a nord-ovest rispetto all'edificio originario, in modo da poter continuare ad occupare la vecchia residenza mentre il nuovo castello era in via di edificazione.
'MY DEAR PARADISE IN THE HIGHLANDS' , così ebbe a definire il nuovo castello la regina Victoria nel suo diario, trovando in esso il luogo più appropriato per le vacanze estive dell'intera, numerosa, famiglia reale.

Seguita dai pittori Sir Edwin LandseerA tale proposito vi svelo una curiosità: mentre Victoria era in vacanza a Balmoral alcuni terroristi di matrice Irlandese organizzarono un complotto per rapire la 48enne regina, questo è quanto è stato svelato da files ufficiali tenuti segreti per quasi 150 anni, e sembrava che quello fosse il luogo ideale poiché e "Essi credono che Sua Maestà vada in giro per il paese con poco seguito, nessuna guardia e che non ci sarà alcuna difficoltà nel compiere il loro progetto." Carl Haag ella ebbe modo di trovare quasi redatto sotto forma di cronaca illustrata ogni suo viaggio in Scozia, dove sia Ella che il Principe Consorte potevano dedicarsi con estrema libertà a momenti di intimità familiare, scevri da ogni impegno politico o mondano ...
: , così reca scritto la nota ufficiale anche se, come altre volte, fortunatamente tale progetto venne scoperto e sventato per tempo.

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and royal retinue fording the River Tarff in Glen Tilt by Carl Haag, 1861

Salmon Leistering in the River Dee: the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred , Guided by John Macdonald, Returning from Salmon Spearing by Carl Haag, 1854, from the Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Evening at Balmoral Castle, The Stags Brought Home by Carl Haag, 1853

In Scozia Ella visse momenti talmente preziosi che volle raccogliere nelle pagine di un diario privato che trovò pubblicazione nell'anno 1864, quando ormai il Principe Albert l'aveva lasciata, vittima di una grave febbre tifoide che lo colpirà e spezzerà la sua vita all'età di soli 42 anni, con il titolo di ' Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands', 'This account of our happy life, now for ever past & of his happy Childhood'; in sessantatrè copie, di cui una donata al principe di Galles che recava la seguente iscrizione: nel 1884 venne pubblicato un ulteriore volume ',
More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands' "che continuava la storia dalla morte del Principe Consorte fino al 1882. Esso era dedicato, non solo come erano i precedenti 'Leaves' alla memoria di colui che rese la sua vita radiosa e felice, ma anche ai suoi 'Loyal Highlanders' e soprattutto al 'mio devoto assistente personale e fedele amico John Brown', che era morto da poco. Un tributo a lui dedicato conclude il libro. " 3

John Brown by Kenneth MacLea

John Brown and Queen Victoria by Edwin Landseer

Profondamente innamorata del suo Albert al quale volle venisse fatta ufficialmente richiesta di matrimonio dopo soli quattro giorni da che lo aveva conosciuto, nonostante l'aspetto un po' troppo 'gentile' e per il tempo decisamente effeminato, Victoria vide in lui l'obiettivo della sua grande passione e del suo bisogno di amore.
'Colui che era il commovente potere di ogni cosa qui, sul quale ho fatto affidamento per 22 anni - Egli, portato via - ed io - che sono in forma per non altro che nulla, che costantemente mi sento come se non dovessi essere qui - sono lasciata sola - mezza selvaggia con il mio dolore!
La prima visita della regina Victoria a Balmoral, 'Qui - dove tutto è stato fatto per Lui - in cui la vita era una delle attivita', [...] fu una formidabile prova della sua forza. 4
Certo che la povera Regina Victoria rimase vedova davvero molto giovane ( il principe consorte la lasciò nel dicembre del 1861 ) e fu perciò felice di trovare in John Brown un fedele amico e compagno che letteralmente divenne la sua ombra e come tale lo vediamo sempre presente sullo sfondo dei dipinti che della regina furono fatti dopo la dipartita del Principe Albert ... ma di ciò che da questa amicizia nacque vi parlerò in un'altra occasione, non voglio dilungarmi ancora molto nel timore di annoiarvi.
Come sempre mi congedo da voi augurandovi ogni bene e sperando di avervi ancora una volta intrattenuti con un argomento di vostro interesse in grado di suscitare il vostro entusiasmo; vi abbraccio infine caramente,

On 1 September 1842 Queen Victoria and Prince Abert landed at Grandton Pier for their first glimpse of Scotland.

They were to visit Edimburgh ed eventually the Highlands, 'where no Sovereign of England has ever been since the Union & non perhaps before, excepting Charles II'. More than thirty years later, when the queen was visiting Glencoe, she felt, 'a sort of reverence in going over these scenes, in this most beautiful country, which I am proud to call my own, where there was such a loyalty to the family of my ancestors. For Stuart blood is in my veins & I am now, their representative & the people are as devoted & loyal to me as they where to that unhappy Race'. 1

Delia Millar, - picture 1 - Luncheon at Cairn Lochan by Caarl Haag, 1865, from QUEEN VICTORIA'S Life in the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS depicted by her watercolour artists, Philip Wilson Publishers Limited, London, 1985, table XXII.

- picture 2 - Morning in the Highlands- the royal family ascending Lochnagar by Carl Haag, 1853, detail

Both Victoria and Prince Albert were enthusiastic about this first trip of theirs to a land still unknown, and of the charm that they felt emanated both from nature, so characteristic in its landscapes, and from the temperament of the inhabitants still so much spontaneous;

"On their return south, Prince Albert wrote to his grandmother: 'Scotland has made a high favourable impression on us both; the country is really very beautiful, although severe & grand, perfect for sport of all kinds ( egli aveva soprattutto in mente la caccia al cervo ) the air remarably pure and light in comparison with that we have here. The people are more natural, & marked by that honesty & simplicity which always distinguish the inhabitants of mountain countries, which are far from towns'."

- picture 3 - Queen Victoria Sketching at Loch Laggan by Sir Edwin Landseer, 1847

In such a fascinating place, where for many times they went again and again from 1842 to 1848, all that remained was to find a home in which to stay during the hunting seasons or for the holidays with the whole family; the choice fell on the old Balmoral Castle originally built by Sir William Drummond in 1390

- picture 3 - Balmoral Castle, drawn by W.Leitch, engraved by J.Godfrey, edited 1875

bought by Prince Albert, having not seen it before, on February 17th , 1848 and on September 8th, 1848 he and the queen arrived to take possession of the whole property, starting a series of lengthy negotiations that ended on June 22nd, 1852 when of the the entire estate they became the real and sole proprietors; once the totality of the land was purchased, Prince Albert decided to rebuild it because he considered the old building not adequately to the needs of his large family, and chose William Smith of Aberdeen as the most qualified architect, who built a new building located 100 meters north-west from the original building, so that hey could continue to occupy the old residence while the new castle was in the process of building.

'MY DEAR PARADISE IN THE HIGHLANDS', so Queen Victoria had to define her new Scottish Castle in her diary, finding in it the most appropriate place for the summer holidays of the entire large royal family.

Followed by painters such as Sir Edwin Landseer and Carl Haag Victoria was able to find almost drafted in the form of an illustrated chronicle every trip of hers to Scotland, where she and the Prince Consort could devote themselves with great freedom in moments of family intimacy, free from any political or mundane commitment ...

In this regard, I'm going to reveal you a curiosity: while Victoria was on holiday at Balmoral a few terrorists of Irish matrix organized a plot to kidnap the 48 years old queen, this is what has been revealed from official files kept secret for almost 150 years, and it seemed that this was the perfect place to make it real because "They believe that Her Majesty goes about the country with very few attendants, no guard and that there will be no difficulty in accomplishing their design." , as contained in this official note, though, like others, fortunately, this project was discovered and foiled in time.

- picture 7 - Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and royal retinue fording the River Tarff in Glen Tilt by Carl Haag, 1861

- picture 8 - Salmon Leistering in the River Dee: the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred , Guided by John Macdonald, Returning from Salmon Spearing by Carl Haag, 1854, from the Royal Collection Trust, © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

- picture 9 - Evening at Balmoral Castle, The Stags Brought Home by Carl Haag, 1853

In Scotland she experienced such precious moments that she collected in the pages of a private journal that found publication in 1864, when Prince Albert was already expired as a victim of a severe typhoid fever that hit him and broke his life at the age of only 42 years, with the title of 'Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands', in sixty-three copies, one of which was donated to the Prince of Wales with the following inscription: This account of our happy life, now for ever of His past & happy Childhood; in 1884 was published another volume 'More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands',

"which continued the story from the death of the Prince Consort up to 1882. It was dedicated, not only as the Leaves had been to the memory of him who made the life of the writer bright and happy, but to her 'Loyal Highlanders' and especially to 'my devoted personal attendant and faithful friend John Brown', who had recently died. A tribute to him concludes the book."

- picture 11 - John Brown and Queen Victoria by Edwin Landseer

Deeply in love with her Albert who wanted to was officially made request for marriage after only four days since he had known him, despite the look a bit too kind and for the time decidedly effeminate, Victoria saw in him the goal of her great passion and her need for love.

Who was especially close to the Court refers the image of a very passionate queen, whose fervor wasn't always reflected in her consort - feeling frustrated in the pursuit of her conjugal rights, Victoria knocked heavily on the door of the bedroom where the Prince Albert he was closed, screaming loudly in German: 'Open this door! I am the Queen! '

- so he endeavored to invent and install a switch near the bedside table to activate a series of mechanical locks on the door of the room so that their nine children, all still minors, were not able to grasp their parents in flagrant.

'He who was the moving power of all, He on whom I lent for 22 years - He taken - & I - who am fit for nothing alone, who constantly feel as if I ought not to be here - am left - half wild with grief ! Queen Victoria's first visit to Balmoral , 'Here - where all was made for Him - where the life was one of activity', [ ...] was a formidable test of her strenght. 4

The fact is that the poor Queen Victoria truly became a widow very young, ( Prince Albert died on December 1861 ) and was certainly very happy to find in John Brown a faithful friend and a loyal companion who literally became her shadow as we can see looking with attention also in the background of the paintings of the queen that were made after the departure of Prince Albert ... but about what from this friendship was born I'm going and tell you on another occasion, I will not say much more, I'm afraid to bore you !

As always I take my leave of you wishing you all the best and in the hope to have entertained you with a topic of your interest able to arouse your enthusiasm; finally I embrace you all much dearly,

Delia Millar, QUEEN VICTORIA'S Life in the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS depicted by her watercolour artists, Philip Wilson Publishers Limited, London, 1985
1 - Delia Millar, QUEEN VICTORIA'S Life in the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS depicted by her watercolour artists, Philip Wilson Publishers Limited, London, 1985 , page 19;