Princess Helena to Miss Ffennell from Cumberland Lodge, telegram, 7 July 1894

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Princess Helena (Princess Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein): Born in May 1846, Princess Helena, was the third daughter and fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Princess Helena was one of the most active members of the royal family, being the patron of many charities and carrying out a huge number of royal engagements, with specific interests in hand embroidery and nursing. She became the first President of the School of Art Needlework after Lady Victoria Welby and Lady Marion Alford set it up, staying for 51 years. The letters held in the RSN archive demonstrate an active correspondence with Miss Ffennel, the Secretary over many years. Letters cover the arrangements for meetings and sales of work, as well as commissions, such as that for the wedding train of her daughter Marie Louise. They show an active engagement in fundraising, and in promoting the work of the School. It was she who said the RSAN would embroider Queen Victoria’s funeral pall, even when all commercial companies had turned it down, and it was she who persuaded her brother, Edwards VII to allow the RSAN to embroider the insignia on his coronation mantle. Princess Helena died in 1923, the RSN commissioned a memorial tablet that remains in its possession. Sources: The RSN and Princess Helena - Royal School of Needleworkhttps://royal-needlework.org.uk/rsn-and-princess-helena/accessed 4.3.25 Kay Williams, S. (2024) An Unbroken Thread: Celebrating 150 Years of the Royal School of needlework ACC Art Books

Printed: TELEGRAM NO CHARGE FOR DELIVERY 24 Ffennell Royal School Needlework Exhibition Rd [Road] SW On a scrap of paper: The train (?) meeting on the 13th is one o’clock not 1.30. Printed: POST OFFICE TELEGRAMS (with official heading) Postmarked: SOUTH KENSINGTON S.W. JY [July] 7 94 Handed in at the Windsor Cumberland Lodge Office 10.36a Received here at 11.48a TO Ffennell Royal School Needlework Exhibition Rd [Road] SW Meeting Executive Committee must be One oclock Not 1.30 on 13th as stands on notice Just received Helena Written diagonally: L.B. July 7th Envelope is printed along the edge WATERLOW AND SONS LIMITED, LONDON WALL

MS 275.22