Good Lord, Mienel dear, I am quite hoarse with much talking to the Queen! First she asked me how Peps was, then if Knackerchen was being good, then if I was taking anything back for my wife. Finally she asked after Sulzer, and whether Baumgartner had really come to grief the other day; and so on incessantly. You can imagine, then, how much I had to reply, and well, I can't bring out another word to-day. Don't think this just a joke; it is all in good earnest, and the Queen of England had a long conversation with me. Furthermore, I can assure you that she is not fat but very short and not at all pretty, with, I am sorry to say, rather a red nose. Still there is something uncommonly friendly and easy about her and although she is decidedly not a person of great weight, she is pleasing and amiable. She does not care for instrumental music and when she attends a concert she does so for her husband's sake, who goes in more for music and is fond of German instrumental music. This time, however, she seems really to have been impressed somewhat. Sainton, who kept his eye on her all the time from his place, declared that she followed my conducting and the pieces performed with quite unusual and increasing interest; she and Prince Albert were quite stirred by Tannhauser, in particular. So much is certain, that when I turned round at the close of the overture, both applauded most heartily, smiling at me in a most friendly manner. Naturally the audience backed them up and this time honoured me with very marked, unanimous and prolonged applause. That was at the end of the first part of the concert, whereupon the Court withdrew to the refreshment-room, whither I was immediately summoned and first handed over to the Lord Chamberlain to be presented. I treated that lord very much en bagatelle, but I confess I was really touched when this kind and gracious Queen assured me quite simply that she was pleased to make my acquaintance, because I could not help remembering what my ostensible standing with her was, one that could not well be more difficult and embarrassing. Here was I, pursued by the police in Germany like a highway robber, difficulties made about my passport in France, yet received by the Queen of England before the most aristocratic Court in the world with unembarrassed friendliness; that is really quite charming!
Although this evening cannot bring me any further general fame it has yet given me great satisfaction, so that I shall be able to leave London with reconciled feelings. This event has pleased me, chiefly on your account, for I know that news of it will be very agreeable to you. I make you a present of the whole incident herewith; do what you like with it. If it would give you satisfaction, let Marshall or Spyri hear part of my account, so that they can put something about it into their papers. Greet all dear friends heartily from Thy Knight of the Order of the Garter.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 284