My very dear and esteemed soul,
Melancholic as I've lately been, the weather here hasn't been helping! It's either extremely hot during the day or rather cold during the night and early mornings ... oh and windy, gosh !!
Some days ago I was invited by a dear friend to visit Belas and its former Royal Palace.
One of the oldest in the realm it matches - in age and style - with the one from Sintra, the so called "palace of the old kings".
Its splendidly charming and its surrounded by beautiful and fanciful (dare I say) Palaces of the most influential nobility!
The Palace (or Quinta) was indeed a royal palace during the medieval period and since then it has fallen into many private hands... Currently belonging to the Counts of Pombeiro they have been given the honor to, lets say, entertain or shelter His Highness the Infante D. Carlos who's poor health doesn't match with Lisbon's climate n'or with the life at Court within the Paço da Ribeira's walls.
It was this princely child that I was hoping to see while strolling within the gardens when I was interrupted by a footman that kindly asked me to leave the grounds because someone very important was to arrive!
"Good heavens, who?!" I dared to ask, but his mouth was kept shut ...
Minutes later, away from the gardens but still not that far, I started to hear dogs barking, horses and a carriage was approaching the main gate. My curiosity toward the whole thing started to grow when I watched that, coming from no where, an unimaginable number of the count's guards and servants aligned themselves from the gates to the main door as well as the owners, came out to receive such visit! Monsieur le Comte was looking serene and happy to be able to receive such guest. He already knew her, but ... who was it?
From the looks the coach appeared to be of expensive and solid construction with big windows fully covered with glass from which one could see, peeping through the costly velvet curtains, one or two ladies admiring the weather.
The horses were exhausted!
As soon as the doors were open everyone knelled on the floor and, oh my, someone came out! It was Her Majesty herself!
Later, after the royal visit, both Monsieur le Comte and Madame la Comtesse apologized immensely the way I had been shuffled away, but when Her Majesty decides to visit, she prefers not to be seen ... In fact, whilst visiting, she's not the Queen but a mother in great distress for her unhealthy child ...
It's understandable, right? But you may also understand my astonishment to visualize such simple scene related to one of the most important Queens within Christendom!
Ah Mater Dolorosa ... !
Adieu ma chère ... I promise that from now on I'll write you more often!
Forever yours truly,
P
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