Queen Victoria’s diary, 1866

The church was very full and the atmosphere very close. Dr. Macleod preached admirably, especially the latter part of the sermon, when he preached extempore, and…

A very fine morning. Got up earlier, and breakfasted earlier, and left at a quarter to ten with Louise and Janie Ely (attended by Brown and Grant as formerly) ;…

Mild and muggy, the mist hanging on the hills. Breakfasted with the children. Andrew Thomson attends to Arthur. Emilie and Annie Macdonald f are with me here ; they…

A brighter morning, though still hazy. The sun came out and the mist seemed dispersing. At twenty minutes to one started with the Duchess and Louise, the two ladies…

A beautiful, bright, clear morning, most pro- vokingly so. After breakfast at half-past nine, we left, with real regret, the kind Duchess's hospitable house, where…

At a quarter-past ten left for Ballater with Lenchen and Louise ; Christian, Arthur, the Duchess of Roxburghe, and Emily Cathcart in the second ; the gentlemen…