1935 MS Diary Scandinavian Steam Yacht Cruise - Royalty

A 1935 Manuscript Account in English of a Scandinavian Cruise.

Contained on 48 single sided pages of a filled notebook, and on nine sides of A4 size paper. An interesting and lively diary, apparently kept by a well-to-do traveller aboard a steam yacht, whose visitors include several members of Scandinavian Royal Families.

The diary starts off with our traveller arriving in Kiel on August 11^th 1935 to a familiar scene for the time “..I noticed from the train in Germany many Nazi flags were displayed. It is a striking but sinister looking emblem, a black swastika on a white circle on a red field. Many Nazis were to be seen about Kiel on the Sunday, sometimes marching about with banners. I spent a quiet day, also on the Monday waiting for the yacht to arrive…the crew of the “Euchantres” were not allowed to land and a German yacht hand helped me take it on board..”. The first night is spent at Fredericia where some Danish Destroyers are seen doing torpedo practice, the yacht being led to safety, and the next day off to Aarhus where a description of the town is noted. Oslo was reached on August 16^th, and after lunch with a couple of local dignitaries, the town is nicely decribed including the architecture of the City. The next day, a special visitor is aboard “..In the afternoon the Queen of Norway came on board to tea. There were sailing races and the harbour looked fascinating in the brilliant sunshine..That evening we went to the cinema & saw “One Night of Love”. The Queen came and sat with our party”. After leaving Oslo, the yacht sails on to Arendal and then on to Bergen. A description of Bergen follows including King Haakon’s Hall and Grieg’s house which is described as “a hideous little erection full of hideous Victorian furniture but in an enchanting situation..”. Moving on to Folgeford Glacier, the similarity with the Scottish coast is given and then to Christiansand and a surprisingly short stop at Gottenburg. The writer seems pleased to reach Copenhagen (and also to have left Norway) and a long and lively description of the visit is made. After a couple of days they move off “..we are steaming up to Halsingborg to take the Crown-Prince & Princess on board to lunch and we are of course in protected water..”. The Royal couple met with the writers favour “..They were most charming - after lunch seeing that some of us were interested in gardening the Crown Prince invited us to return with him to summer residence Sofiero where he had a good garden…It was raining hard, but the Crown Prince showed us everything himself..”. The poor weather causes an extended stay, when bad news arrives “About lunch time the news was brought that the Queen of the Belgians had been killed in a motor accident. Our flag was put at half mast and the two Swedish flags which the Crown Prince had kindly ordered to be flown on the flagstaff..”. Moving on to Stockholm, the writer is enchanted by the City and three days are spent around the City and a thorough description is again given. The next stop is Gothland, and then to Wisby which is described as “one of the saddest places on earth”, Kalmar (where a description of the market is given) and a stop at Trelleborg due to severe weather and on to Langeland. The yacht then makes her way back to Kiel, with the writer going ashore for mail, as well as a description of the Canal. The diary finishes (quite abruptly mid page) on September 11^th with the voyage apparently over.

Approx.105x167mm., original paper covers with rested staples resulting in the pages becoming partially (though not entirely) detached. Overall clean and text easy to read.

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