Entries for Thomas Cubitt in Queen Victoria’s Private Journal

The location that the diary entry was made is shown at the end of the reference line.

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Monday 31st March 1845, (Principal Royal Residence) Osborne House

“Rode home again, & on our return Albert went over the house with M^r Cubitt, a Builder, who is to make a few alterations in the house. — Vicky lunched with us, & then we took a walk being out 2 hours & ½. I never remember a more glorious afternoon, & the sun quite hot. We also rode part of the time, in the woods & fields, going by Barton, on to the property of Alverston (which as well as Wodehouse, & King’s Key Creek, we intend buying) & down to King’s Key where there is a little cottage, beautifully situated on a point above the Creek, with trees going down to the sea.”

Tuesday 1st April 1845, (Principal Royal Residence) Buckingham Palace

“Fine, but windy. — We walked out & went over some of the new very pretty houses near Osborne. We found it colder than the last days. Albert went again all over the house with M^r Cubitt.”

Friday 11th April 1845, (Principal Royal Residence) Buckingham Palace

“Whilst Albert was out with M^r Cubitt, to choose papers for Osborne, I read in Italian, with L^y Lyttelton.”

Saturday 29th August 1846, (Principal Royal Residence) Osborne House

“A fine day. — After breakfasting with Mama we went over our new house, & — then I drove down to the beach with Mama & her Ladies, Albert having walked down, & took leave of her & saw her safely off in the boat. The 4 Children were on the beach. — Fritz Strelitz came to luncheon, & at 3 we went out with him, our 4 Children & the Ladies & gentlemen to the Fête we gave to all our labourers, both of the property & belonging to M^r Cubitt(250 in number). The Fête was given in honour of Albert‘s birthday & took place on the flat piece of ground, between this, & Osborne Cottage. Dinner was served in 2 large tents & the Band was playing. We stayed till near 4 & saw our healths being drunk, one after the other. We all went out again later & saw the people dancing, playing at Cricket, jumping in sacks, running races & other spots. I never saw so much fun & people more cheery & pleased. The music, — the happy people, shouting, laughing, dancing & playing, (without ever being disorderly), was a charming sight; it clearly proves that the English can, & like to enjoy themselves, just as much as any other nationality & are not so dull & grave, as some wish to represent them to be. Some of our footmen & grooms & one or two steward’s room boys distinguished themselves greatly in remaining & jumping. Our Children & the 2 little Jocelyns were out till near ½ p. 6, & we remained till 7, when all was over. Toward, who had the management of the whole, exerted himself beyond everything. — The Ansons & the Bishop of Oxford to dinner.”

Monday 14th September 1846, (Principal Royal Residence) Osborne House

“Busied ourselves much in the new house & then I went out & sketched with L^y Canning, after which I walked with Albert, & we all went & established ourselves in our new house, which is beautifully & most solidly built. On entering the Hall, to the right, is the Drawingroom, a simple, get at the same time handsome room, with a bow to it, & opening into it, without a door, a handsome billiard room, with columns dividing it from the Drawingroom, but this is not yet furnished. Our Dining room is on the other side of the Drawingroom. There are 2 spare rooms on this ground floor. A handsome staircase, much resembling the one at Claremont, brings one to our living rooms on the 1^stfloors, consisting of a charming bedroom (above the Dining room), dressing room & bathroom (in one), our sitting room, a lovely room, with a bow, very like the shape of mine at Buckingham Palace; opening out of that is Albert‘s dressing room. & leading out of that his bathroom. Mounting another flight of stairs one comes to the Children’s quarters, nurseries, schoolroom, governesses room, &c., & these are also rooms for some of my maids. All is so convenient, spacious & well carried out. M^r Cubitt has done it admirably. He is such an honest, kind good man. It appears to me like a dream to be here now in our own house, of we laid the 1^st stone only 15 months ago! May god’s blessing on our new home, & all its inmates & may He allow as to enjoy it in peace & comfort for many many years to come! — The Anson & Miss Anson dined with us in our beautiful Dining room, & our healths were drunk. We walked over afterwards to the poor old house, where we sat in the Drawingroom. Went to see the Children peacefully asleep in their beds, & so nicely established.”

Tuesday 13th June 1848, (Principal Royal Residence) Osborne House

“A fine morning, & we were out for some time. — There was an alarm, which however ended in nothing, of 40 Chartists having come over to Cowes, with the intention of coming up here. In an instant all Cubitt‘s men & all our labourers armed with sticks, were placed in readiness. The sailors from the “Fairy” came up with carbines, some troops were sent for, from Park burst, who arrived in 2 hours time, — all was in bath array, but it ended in nothing. The suspected people belonged, it seems to a company of “Odd Fellows”, who had come to enjoy themselves on Whit Tuesday, & it happened that 2 notable Chartists had been seen by the Police, & had been rude in their question at the lodge. This was all that caused the alarm. — when we walked out in the evening, we saw the small company of troops march away from Barton. It was a fine, but very windy evening. — Capt: Crispin, the addition to our dinner party. We played Whist these 2 evenings.”

Tuesday 8th July 1851, (Principal Royal Residence) Buckingham Palace

“The anniversary of poor Uncle Cambridge‘s death. — We went with the 2 girls to the Exhibition & walked down the Nave, examining the beautiful things there, in particular a new casket in ivory, came from Paris. Walked through the English Furniture Courts, through those containing stoves & grates, along where the agricultural implements are & through the Machinery, where we met our agreeable instructor M^r Heusman. He has the supervision of the whole Machinery having been placed there by M^r W^mCubitt, the Civil Engineer, an excellent, clever man, cousin to our Cubitt, who has been most useful in the creation of the building, & went round the Machinery with us, explaining all so admirably & concisely. The Nave was tremendously crowded when we passed through it & the Children of the Foundling Hospital were there. — Sat to Sir Ed: Landseer, who, with the help of Winterhalter, (whose advice he was particularly anxious to have) corrected the whole face, & got it into right drawing, & proportions. It is delightful to see 2 such great artists, so devoid of jealously & so ready to aid one another. — Drove late in the afternoon with Fanny Gainsborough. Immense crowds out. — We dined, & spent the evening together.”

Monday 28th July 1851, (Principal Royal Residence) Osborne House

“A dull morning. — Took our walk before breakfast, & after it Albert was occupied in directing & helping to clip the trees & shrubs in the pleasure grounds. I also helped to the best of my ability, & the Boys made themselves very useful in clearing away the branches. — Painted again after writing &c — & Albert kindly helped & painted too. — The afternoon again very rainy, however I went out for an hour’s drive with Mama, the 2 little girls & 2 Ladies. The evening cleared, & I walked a little with Albert. We met M^r Cubitt. — The Phippses dined. ”

Wednesday 13th August 1851, (Principal Royal Residence) Osborne House

“A very close morning, with rain, & there was a thunderstorm after breakfast, so that I only got out late for a walk with Albert. — Played & painted after luncheon. Finished the copy of little Amélie’s portrait & have now begun one of Clotilde. — Albert was much occupied most of the day, with the Gentlemen of the Executive Committee of the Exhibition settling alas! about the closing of this great work, & considering the new great plan for the Exhibition. M^r William Cubitt remained, Albert wishing to consult him about a steam engine for our Farm. — Sat out & Vicky read some Despatches to me, after which I joined & the 2 M^r Cubitts. Then joined the Children on the lawn, — remained out till late. — We dined alone together, & walked below the Terrace in the moonlight. It was indescribably beautiful.”

Monday 24th December 1855, (Principal Royal Residence) Windsor Castle

“Very mild & very bright, but a very high wind. — Already Christmas Eve! It comes round to quickly, — so much too fast, & yet how much has happened since last Christmas. — Very busy all the morning, & early afternoon with preparations, which I have been, since returning from Osborne, & indeed before we went. — Albert out shooting, & I, taking a short walk with the 2 dear little girls. — Have been much grieved by the death of that excellent & worthy man, M^r Thomas Cubitt, which occurred on the 20^th. Shortly after returning from Scotland, we had heard that he was very ailing, & he rapidly became worse. Fortunately his sufferings were not so great at the last. In his sphere of life, with the immense business he had in hand, he is a real national loss. A better, kinder hearted or more simple, unassuming man, never breathed & Osborne must ever be bound up to us with the memory of this excellent man, who executed & aided in carrying out all my beloved Albert‘s plans, & he was so truly devoted to us. He used to come very frequently during the actual building of the Pavilion, & the other part of the house. We feel we owe much to him for the way in which he carried out everything. — A very short walk after luncheon, & then put the last touches to all the arrangements of the tables. — At a little after 6 we took Mama, Ernest, & the 8 Children into the usual room, which was one blaze of light, & the whole was a very festive scene. After giving all their presents, of which there were a great number, we went into the next room where there was another tree & Albert‘s & my present tables had been put. Received many fine gifts. — After 7 I gave the tree & presents to the Ladies & Gentlemen, & then we took them to see ours. — Vicky & the Phippses, the only addition to dinner.”

Wednesday 24th March 1880, (Principal Royal Residence) Windsor Castle

Just 14 years today, dear Queen Marie Amélie died. At ½ p. 10, held a Council for the Prorogation. Leopold, the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Northumberland & L^d Beauchamp, were there. M^r G. Cubitt, & M^r Plunkett, were made P. C., the former turns out to be the son of our dear old M^r Cubitt, who built Osborne. — Saw L^d Beaconsfield. He spoke of the elections. Scotland & Ireland, (where a M^r Biggar had held treasonable language) make him anxious. — After luncheon, to which the dear little children came, as usual, saw L^d Beaconsfield again for a moment before holding the 2^nd Council, for the Dissolution. — Leopold brought Willie of Prussia to see me afterwards. He has come to Cumberland Lodge for a week, to see his intended. — Drove with Beatrice to the Mausoleum, & then took a short turn. — Sorting papers, writing, packing my boxes.”