KENSINGTON PALACE, LONDON 



Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace 

 in 1819 ; Lord Eldon's official duties as ,Lord 

 Chancellor obliged him to be in attendance. 

 When he returned home, greatly moved, he took 

 down Shakespeare, reciting from Henry VIII : 



" This royal infant heaven still moves about 



her ! 



Though in her cradle yet now promised 

 Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, 

 Which time shall bring to ripeness ; she shall be, 

 'But few now living can behold that goodness 

 A pattern to all prices living with her, 

 And all that shall succeed" 



The Princess was privately christened here on 

 June 24, 1819, and was still living in the palace 

 with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, when at 

 the death of her uncle, William IV, the throne 

 devolved upon her, and here she held, in 1836, 

 her first Council. 



The late Duke of Sussex occupied apartments 

 in the palace, where as President of the Royal 

 Society he gave receptions to men of science and 

 scholars. Here he collected his magnificent 

 library, specially rich in Bibles. 



Queen Alexandra's cousin and friend from 



47 



