Queen a summary of the most important news. He found time also to
work and play with his children during his short intervals of leisure.
Consultations with ministers, reading and writing dispatches
followed, and then a short time was devoted to open-air exercise.
After lunch he often accompanied the Queen on a drive. More reading
and writing took up his time until dinner, after which there was
either a social evening or a visit to a theatre. He was "complete
master in his house, and the active centre of an Empire whose power
extends to every quarter of the globe. . . . No British Cabinet
minister has ever worked so hard during the session of Parliament,
and that is saying a good deal, as the Prince Consort did for 21
years. . . . The Prince had no holidays at all, he was always in
harness."[1]

[Footnote 1: Miss C.M. Yonge, _Life of H.R.H. the Prince Consort_.]

Louis Philippe, the first French king who had ever visited this
country, except King John, wrote of him: "Oh, he will do wonders;
he is so wise; he is not in a hurry; he gains so much by being known.
He will always give you good advice. Do not think I say so in flattery.
No! No! It is from my heart. He will be like his uncle, equally wise
and good. . . . He will be of the greatest use to you, and will keep
well at your side if a time of vicissitude should come, such as I
hope may never be--but, after all, no one can tell."




CHAPTER V: _Family Life