DLA123-0021 Transcription

Savoy Hotel

Paseo del Prado, 26

Madrid

13 April 1927

Pauly dearest. I’m enclosing you a letter from “Daphne” who I perceive has had an increase to her family! Miss Wingrove^[1] sent it here. You must tell yr. friends to write your whole name in future – I’ve just been writing to Pat,^[2] & told him to

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stay on in Oxford 2 or 3 nights to see something of you after his exam. Dads^[3] wd. like him to do this also, as I won’t be at home alas! I hate not being back to welcome you all. But here we are stuck, I’m afraid till quite the end of this month. Poor Dads is annoyed about it also, as it holds up our plans so – of course he want to bring back home some interesting sketches & will be staying on in Spain about 10 days after he has finished his work here, in

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order that he has a chance of doing something for himself. He is absolutely engrossed in these important pictures.^[4] And the King^[5] is not altogether easy. He’s delightful & friendly as poss: to Dads – but then he’s “The King” & one must be “all there” when he’s present.

Yesterday I had a “shake hands” from him! He was watching his body guard file past in one of the Courts of the

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Palace, & Dads & I were present by special permission (Dads working the Cinna). When the file past ended, the King came to Dads & shook hands & then to me who was standing a little way off. Then he popped into his car & drove off to lunch at a Chateau in the Country. He is so like Duc de Grammont^[6] in figure & manner – & of course awfully like Charles V. I’ve been studying yr. Chart! We are living great days here. But we’ll be glad to leave Madrid – such wind & cold after a spell of mild weather! I hope Aunt Eve^[7] is quite over her cold? How glad you’ll be when the strain of work & exam will be over – Stef^[8] & Pat write often

[In the margin of page 4]

You’ve all 3 exams a-head – we certainly are not a lazy family! How does Johnno^[9] get on at golf?

[In the margin of page 3]

Hope you take good exercise also? Several young Englishmen I’ve met here studying Spanish – Hope Aunty G.^[10] gets good service from the new maid –

[In the margin of page 2]

A big hug to you & my Johnno - & love to you all at the Willows —

Mum

22/11/2018

[1] Miss B. Wingrove, de László’s secretary at the time

[2] Patrick David de Laszlo (1909-1980) [9205], fourth son of Philip and Lucy de László

[3] Philip Alexius de László (1869-1937) [9724]

[4] In the Spring of 1927, de László spent seven weeks at the Royal Palace in Madrid, where he painted portraits of King Alfonso XIII (1886-1941) [12400] [12438], his consort Queen Victoria Eugenia (1887-1969) [11735] [12398], and their children, don Alfonso de Borbón y Battenberg, Prince of Asturias (1907-1938) [112235] [8003] [8004], the Infantes don Jaime (1908-1975) [10852], don Juan (1913-1993) [12015] and don Gonzalo (1914-1934) [8014], and portraits of the two Infantas, doña Beatriz (1909-2002) [8008] [10254], and doña María Cristina (1911-1996) [10854] [112335].

[5] King Alfonso XIII of Spain (1886-1941) [7925]

[6] Antoine XII-Armand, 12th duc de Gramont; styled duc de Guiche (1879-1962) [11801]

[7] Eva Frances Guinness (1868-1930) [5440], elder sister of Lucy

[8] Stephen Philip de Laszlo (1904-1939) [4375], second son of Philip and Lucy

[9] John Adolphus de Laszlo (1912-1990) [11622], fifth and youngest son of Philip and Lucy

[10] Likely Mrs Christopher du Toit, née Beatrice Grace Guinness (1869-1944) [4719], elder sister of Lucy