‘Although not from Victoria,’ she had said emphatically as, with a handkerchief, she had dried her eyes. ‘Poor, dear Victoria was almost as distressed as I at having to insist we live more cheaply abroad, and she only did so because – and you will hardly believe this, May – because all of my closest family – your maternal grandmama, my sister and my brother – have all insisted that we abandon White Lodge and that we do not even keep our apartment at Kensington Palace. It is they who begged Victoria to intervene in this matter. It is outrageous that family who should be helping us financially have said they will do so no longer, when they know that, of all people, I am the person least prone to extravagance and that I am not at all responsible for our situation. If it hadn’t been for your Teck grandmama having been non-royal, Papa would be heir to the throne of Württemberg now and we would be living in Stuttgart, with no financial difficulties whatsoever.’

She drew in a deep, shuddering breath, but to May’s relief was no longer crying.

‘And to think of all the little economies I have been driven to practise,’ her mother continued indignantly as the carriage rattled through the gates of White Lodge ‘Hoarding pieces of string! Keeping used paper from parcels! And it has been suggested that when we remove ourselves to the continent – which we are to do almost immediately – we occupy a small apartment in Frankfurt. Over my dead body will I live in a small apartment in Frankfurt!’

A few hours later, as a family discussion was being held around the dining table, she said emphatically, ‘Wherever we remove to, it will never be Frankfurt.’

‘Or Neu Strelitz,’ her husband said, not having the slightest desire to be surrounded by his wife’s close relatives for what could well be a permanent stay.

‘Or Stuttgart,’ said Dolly, who hated the rigid formality they had to endure there.

A box of chocolates was conveniently to hand and, helping herself to a strawberry cream, Princess Mary Adelaide said firmly, ‘Wherever we go, it must be somewhere suitably fashionable. I understand from Aunt Marie that Florence is a great favourite with Russian royals.’

The Duke of Teck said encouragingly, ‘And not only with Russians, my pet. Queen Natalie of Serbia spends several months each year in Florence, and Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Württemberg cousins visit the city regularly. We shall not be without society, and there will be museums and galleries to interest May.’

‘Then Florence it is!’ From being in the depths of despair, their mother’s natural optimism was beginning to resurface. ‘And now I must order new gowns and furs. I cannot risk being thought a dowd by Russian royals.’

Later that night May wrote three letters. The first was to Ella:

Dearest Ella,