In the Shadow of a Queen

by Heather B. Moore

They disembarked the steamer where a guard of honor lined the pier as a bagpiper played “The Campbells Are Coming.”

She stopped counting how many times her stomach plunged to her toes as they traversed the humpback bridge dividing the counties of Dumbarton and Argyll, then climbed the steep pass of Glen Croe. She’d been seasick on the steamer, and now, the steep climb wasn’t helping any.

“Rest and Be Thankful,”

Decorated yachts and smaller boats filled the space. The township of Inveraray sat on the left, and the gray castle with its imposing turrets rose on the right. “What’s that?” Louise pointed to a watchtower on the summit of the hill rising behind the castle. “The hill of Duniquaich. The watchtower was built to warn us of attack by enemies.”

The Duchess stood with other family members who Louise knew from Argyll House, but there were plenty of extended relatives she had yet to meet. She could hardly believe that these were all her new family members. It was as if her world had increased by tenfold—no, a hundredfold.

the Argyllshire Volunteers and to present them to Princess Louise and the Duke.

Later, after tea had rejuvenated them, Louise joined the Campbells in the saloon where they presented her with the clan wedding present of a lovely diamond and pearl necklace with a pearl locket and pendant bearing the Galley of Lorne. Sir Donald Campbell of Dunstaffnage read a formal address from a roll of parchment, the borders illustrated with the Scottish thistle and English rose, intertwined with orange blossoms.

Finally, the sun came out at Inveraray, and Louise received the joyous news that Sybil had given birth to a healthy baby girl. They were naming her Sybil Evelyn de Vere Beauclerk, after her mother. Louise was ecstatic but wondered why Sybil hadn’t written her. The telegram had come from Helena instead. Worry niggled at the back of Louise’s mind, but her days and evenings were so full that she didn’t have time to analyze why she’d be worried. Within a few days, surely Sybil would write herself. Louise wrote her own note of congratulations and posted it. Soon they’d travel to Kintyre, the home the Duke had given them as part of the marriage settlement.

Louise was more than proud to join the ranks of the Campbell fisherwomen. She decided that she’d have her own tweeds made so that she’d be ready for future excursions.

Sybil Grey Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans, Louise’s closest friend since the age of sixteen, had died of puerperal fever on September 7, only a few weeks after her daughter had been born.

“She is free from her pain now.” Puerperal fever would have kept Sybil in agony all this time, and no one had written to Louise of the situation. She’d been so caught up in her new surroundings and new family, she hadn’t pressed Helena for more information.

Royalty attending Sybil’s . . . funeral . . . will put undue burden on a grieving family.”

I do believe God is watching over all of us, all the time, whatever happens. We miss our lost loved ones dearly, but it’s up to us to continue on in their honored memories.

Louise agreed, and they arrived in Campbelltown after a calm evening. The community was small, but the people had gathered in droves. They lined the roads, waving their handkerchiefs and tossing flowers, reminding her of when she and John had left Windsor on their wedding day. Even the church bells rang as they crossed the town boundary. The carriage traversed the nine-mile journey to the south coast. The winding lanes and beautiful rising hills captured Louise’s attention. “It’s like a tropical island,” she marveled, unable to decide which window of the carriage to look out of. “A hidden gem. Absolutely breathtaking.”

Once they reached Kintyre, where their new home, the Macharioch House, was, they stopped at the small parish church.

“Well, we need to hire an architect.” Louise looked up at her husband. “George Devey will do, should he accept the position. He specializes in houses and cottages.”

He’d been watching her carefully for days, since the loss of Sybil, and Louise realized he was worried about her grief. It had ebbed somewhat, although her eyes still stung when Sybil came to mind. But this beautiful location, which represented a new beginning in her life, was already a balm. Sybil had lived a good life. She’d brought three children into the world, and now her suffering was over. Louise needed to be grateful for the time she’d had with her friend.

This school program will be a day school that offers more than just classes on manners and domesticity. The girls will learn science, mathematics, art, and music. They will be educated at a higher standard so that they can prepare and qualify to enter into universities. My aim is to honor Sybil St Albans.” She turned to face the sea and gazed across the blue-and-green water that sparkled beneath the Scottish sun. “It is time.”

Hopes to be dreamed of. And life to be lived.

Although Louise was not able to have children, most likely due to the meningitis she contracted at sixteen, and despite her numerous treatments at spas in Germany, she was beloved by her many nieces and nephews. Like all marriages and relationships in general, Princess Louise and John Campbell had their own difficulties. Not having children was a great loss to Louise and also to John, since the heir to the dukedom did not pass down his direct line but instead went to his brother Archi’s son, Niall Campbell.

Having the queen’s son-in-law in such an assignment created a valued representation of Queen Victoria in Canada, and of course, the presence of Princess Louise was an added boon. The couple embarked on the five-year assignment, sailing for Canada in November 1878 (Packard 190). Unfortunately, in February 1880, Louise suffered a sleigh accident; their sleigh overturned, and she was dragged about one thousand feet (Packard 208). This resulted in a head injury that plagued Louise the rest of her life, causing severe migraines.

Louise became a lifelong advocate for education, women’s rights, and other charities.

Louise’s care and compassion toward soldiers continued throughout her lifetime.

John’s death in 1914, at the age of sixty-eight, ended several long years in which Louise stuck by her husband’s side as his mind faltered, possibly from Alzheimer’s disease. John contracted pneumonia and never recovered.

Princess Louise spent her final years living in either Rosneath or Kensington. Toward the end of 1939, trenches were dug outside her Kensington Palace windows in preparation for the Second World War.

Louise outlived six of her siblings and was survived by Arthur and Beatrice. The funeral was quiet and small for a royal princess, due to the burgeoning war, but it was attended by her royal family and her Argyll family, the Campbells (Packard 338).

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, carved her own path through life, even until the very end.