Queen Victoria is Very Much Amused

It seems that the Daily Mail journalist assigned to track down George Wombwell junior in his basement room near the City Road might have had some problems in editing down his story for public consumption. But then, as now, he would have known that the public would certainly appreciate a royal family angle on the story. And George was only too happy to oblige: 

Of his experiences as a menagerie proprietor, there was no end. One incident after another was recalled by the old man, as if the recollection of them were a solace to him in his present destitute state.

Asked if he had ever appeared before Royalty, the venerable showman, with a touch of honest pride, mentioned that he had had the privilege of putting a baby tiger into the arms of the Prince of Wales.

“We were at Windsor,” he explained, “for the October fair. Two tigers and five lion cubs had been born in the menagerie just before. A message came from the Castle that her Majesty desired to see them. We took them in a basket to the riding school, together with the Newfoundland bitch who was the foster-mother. The Queen, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales (who was then six years of age), and Princess Royal were among those present. 

Wombwell’s Menagerie at Windsor Castle. From: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017. dated 1847, and probably the occasion when George Wombwell junior met the Royal Family.

I remember her Majesty and the others were very much amused at the way in which the young lions rolled over one another in order to get near their foster mother. When the young tigers were brought out of the hamper, The Prince of Wales, said something to his father. Prince Albert turned to me and asked if they would hurt. I assured him they would not, and he then said the young prince would like to have one in his arms. I then stooped down and placed one in the arms of his Royal Highness. I think I am right in saying that that was the Prince’s first acquaintance with a tiger.”

It was not however by a long stretch the last acquaintance of the future Edward VII with a tiger. When he made a state visit to India in 1875, there was enough time available between ceremonial events for the Prince's party to shoot twenty-eight tigers to death. For Edward, this would merely have been one outing in a career characterised by the ritual slaughter of the wildlife of the British Empire.  

Meanwhile, the young Princess Royal, Edward's elder sister, who was also observing this touching scene, was in due course to marry the German Emperor, Frederick III. In 1859, she gave birth to the future Kaiser Wilhelm II. 

Yes, they were all happy enough to be good Europeans in those days. And it must have been gratifying that Queen Victoria was not just amused by this charming cameo, but very much amused. When invited however to view one of the female lion tamers at work in the cage, she reverted to type, and declined outright, distinctly, not amused.