Date:1874
Description:The Queen’s letters to Duchess Anne also reflect contemporary social and moral views. In a letter dated May 3rd 1874 the Queen explains her reasons for refusing to receive a lady named Effie Millais. Effie, whose full name was Euphemia Chalmers Gray (1828–1897) married John Ruskin in 1848. However, she formed an attachment to the artist John Millais which led her to annul her marriage to Ruskin and remarry Millais. Queen Victoria’s letter demonstrates her reluctance to formally receive Euphemia. Referring to Duchess Anne as ‘Annie’, the Queen responds to a letter from the Duchess which had attempted to persuade the Queen to receive Euphemia Millais. Queen Victoria acknowledges receipt of this letter, before stating that ‘the rule has always been adhered to’. She refuses to make an exception for Effie Millais, commenting that receiving the lady would be ‘opening the door to many others’ and would cause ‘remarks of every kind & sort which would be much more injurious to the Lady than her not being received.’ The Queen concludes her remarks abruptly noting ‘you should advise Mrs Millais in her own interest to say no more about it’. Contextual Information from: Malcolm Warner, ‘Millais, Sir John Everett, first baronet (1829–1896)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18713]
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