"Wisbech Standard", December 28 1888
The Society Papers

        The Queen, who returns to Windsor at the end of February, will proceed to the Continent early 
        in April for a month; but Her Majesty has not yet decided whether she will go to ........... 
        resting between Florence, Aix-les-Bains, and the Riviera.  Her Majesty will probably so arrange 
        her plans as to meet the Empress Frederick, and to stay in the same place where she is.

        The new private chapel at Osborne which has recently been fitted up, is now adorned by two very
        fine pictures which Sir Noel Paton painted expressly for the Queen.  
        They are entitled "Vigil et Orate" and "Lux in Tenebris".

        Prince Henry Battenberg is to shoot over the preserves on the Osborne estate during the next three
        weeks.  The covers on the Royal property are very extensive, and they are well stocked with pheasants.

        The change and rest of Windsor has had, I am told, a most beneficial effect on the health and spirits
        of the Empress Frederick, who is already looking much stronger and sleeps better than when she 
        arrived.  She is much calmer, and has now somewhat recovered from the reawaking of her sorrow  by the
        constant reminiscences of her husband which her visit to England could not fail to create.  She has
        thrown herself, however, warmly into the pursuits and occupations of those around her; and now that
        Princess Beatrice has been called away, she is able in a small degree to return to the days and work
        of an elder daughter to the Queen.

        I hear that Lord Sydney has advised the the Queen to make extensive reductions in the department
        of the Chapels Royal.  The congregations at both St. James's and Whitehall are very samll except
        on special occaisions, and both chapels are closed for at least two months every year, so that an 
        expenditure in connection with them of about �10,000 a year seems rather extravagant.  There is
        certainly abundant scope for Lord Sydney's reforming zeal in the chapel establishments, which consist
        of a Dean [usually the Bishop of London, with a stipendof �200 a year], a Sub-Dean, a Clerk of the Closet,
        three deputy Clerks of the Closet [to assist the Clerk in doing nothing whatever], 36 chaplains in
        in ordinary, 13 honorary chaplains, two University preachers, nine priests in waiting, eight "gentlemen"
        [singing men] of the Chapels Royal], six retired "gentlemen" who receive pensions, 20 children [choristers]
        of Chapels Royal, a master of the "children", an organist and composer, a musical instructor, two
        sergeants of the vestry, and a host of vergers and other attendants, all well paid, and most of them
        being in the enjoyment of many desirable perquisites.  There are also Chapels Royal at Buckingham
        Palace [where there has not been a service for more than 27 years]; Windsor Castle [in which the 
        Queen has just placed a new organ which has cost about �2,000], Hampton Court, and Kensington
        Palace; all with adequate establishments, and maintained by her Majesty.      
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        From  [I]"Truth"[/I]

        Her Majesty has finally decided not to build a villa at Aix-les-Bains, although the site, which was
        upon the Hill of Tresaerves, and overlooked the Lac du Bourget, was purchased more than a year ago,
        and the plans of the projected house had been drawn out.  Her Majesty wished to have more extensive 
        grounds than the land which she had bought would afford............

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