Beschreibung:

Elizabeth II (1926-2022). Queen of the United Kingdom, 1952-2022. A manuscript journal describing the Queen's and other royal visits at home and abroad, October 1957 to October 1959, written in blue ink in a consistent and meticulous hand, though possibly copied up from notes of the period, beginning with a description of 'The state visit of the Queen and Prince Philip to Canada and the USA. 12th-22nd October 1957' and giving detailed information about what the Queen was wearing, 'The Queen and Prince Philip left London airport at 7 am in a DCYC aircraft of BOAC. Their compartment in the rear was finished in peacock blue and grey. At the bottom of the steps leading up to the aircraft vases of bronze, white and yellow chrysanthemums were massed. The Queen was wearing a fitted coat of slate-blue over a matching frock. The revers of the coat came fairly low and had one slight about halfway down; the fitted bodice was fastened by three large buttons; below the waist the line of the coat sloped gently downwards, continuing in a sloping, buttoned pocket flap; the skirt was slightly flared; the long sleeves were left with a short split at the wrist. Her small, straight toque hat was in a lighter shade of slate-blue velvet, with velvet folded round the crown ending in a rose-like twist at the front. Black suede gloves, shoes and bag. Four rows of pearls and a lapel brooch. She carried a small posy of two red roses and a sprig of white heather, given to her by Prince Charles and Princess Anne... ' (12 October 1957), continuing in similar vein with much attention to clothing with events including a tour of Australia and New Zealand by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (28 January-10 March 1958), state visit of the Queen and Prince Philip to Holland (25-27 March 1958), the state visit to London of the President of Italy and Signora Gronchi (13-16 May 1958), Royal Command Variety performances, tour of Ethiopia, the Somaliland Protectorate and Aden by the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester (13-26 November 1958), private visit of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret to Rome and Paris (20-27 April 1959), tour of Canada by the Queen and Prince Philip (18 June-1 August 1959), etc., a total of 170 pages, on ruled paper, contemporary limp roan, paper label to upper cover with typed title, 'Royal Occasions. Book 3', 8vo (18 x 11 cm) (Quantity: 1) A highly unusual item of royal memorabilia. The most likely author would seem to be Margaret 'Bobo' Macdonald (1904-1993), nurse and dresser to Queen Elizabeth II. Beginning as a nursemaid in Elizabeth's infancy Margaret became the Queen's dresser, looking after her clothes and jewellery and helped style her appearance, and was a constant presence in Elizabeth's life for 67 years. She accompanied Elizabeth on her honeymoon and all her tours, and lived in style at Buckingham Palace.