Queen Victoria Handwritten Telegraphs

Two telegraphs written in hand by Queen Victoria to Lady Berkeley in regard to Mrs Lily Wellesley, wife of the Queens personal Chaplain. Dated 9^th July 1865 and sent by The Electric and International Telegraph Company. Both are in good condition and one has the seal of Queen Victoria at Osborne House affixed.

The first reads ‘How is dear Lilly tonight? Pray telegraph tomorrow morning.'

The second follows ‘I have not received an answer to my telegraph of this morning. Wish to hear every morning how Mrs Wellesley is.’

Magdalen 'Lily' Montagu was a favourite of Queen Victoria. She married Gerald Valerian Wellesley, nephew of the 1^st Duke of Wellington who served as the Dean of Windsor and personal Chaplain to Queen Victoria. After the death of her husband in 1882, Lily was appointed an ‘Extra Woman of the Bedchamber’ to Queen Victoria and was later awarded for her services the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert (4^th Class).