Autograph Note Signed (third person).
This British army officer (major, 7th Light Dragoons) and courtier was appointed master of her majesty's household in 1861 and in 1866 named one of the joint keepers of her majesty's privy purse (sole keeper after 1867), and as such, according to Sir Theodore Martin in "The Life of His Highness the Prince Consort," "he was the last survivor of the three very able men... who had been intimately associated with the prince from their position as leading members of her majesty's household" -- in other words, if you wanted to get through to Queen Victoria and the royal family, you had to go through him. Third person ANS, 1p lettersheet, 4 3/4" X 7¼", Buckingham Palace, 1869 April 7. Near fine. Mounting traces on verso. Beautifully and boldly penned "Sir Thomas Biddulph is commanded to express the Princess Louise's regret that Her Royal Highness is unable to accede to the request preferred in Miss Lowe's letter of the 5th Inst....." Princess Louise (1848-1939) was the fourth daughter and sixth child of Victoria and Albert. Item #31973
Price: $55.00