Buckingham Palace - Printed letter completed in typescript announcing restricted permission from the King to wear the insignia of the Cross of Commander of the Order of Leopold.
Accompanied by the envelope.
In the train to Breccles.—Has received his letters up to 10 February. Is sorry he is depressed. She has heard that he is now not expected back till early May. Discusses the progress of work at Breccles. Has been to Bath with Bluey and her mother and bought some furniture. As Sidney Herbert is on leave they have had parties most eve-nings. Michael goes back to France in a week, but doesn’t seem fit to go. She dined last night at Lady Paget’s. She is thinking of spending a day at the Wharf for a day af-ter Easter, after going to Pixton. Sylvia is ill and has to have a large operation; Card-ie’s operation is on Saturday.
[24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.]—(Later.) Has spent the day inspecting the progress of work at Breccles. She gave a dinner-party tonight and they read Montagu’s ‘Indian’s poem’. Is dining with friends tomorrow. They are coping with the rationing and there have been few air-raids recently. She has recently lunched with Lord D[erby] and dined with Victoria Primrose, whom she hadn’t seen since Neil was killed. Has bought some books for Breccles, but no clothes at all since he left. Reminds him to get her some Toute la Forêt [perfume] in Paris.
17 Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W. - Encloses the letters he received in response to his enquiry if King Edward VII would care to accept a copy of Frazer's 'The Early History of the Kingship': one from [Malcolm Graham] Ramsay dated 30.X.1905 enclosing a letter from [Frederick Edward] Ponsonby dated 30.X.05, stating that that the King will be pleased to accept the gift but that this does not imply permission to dedicate the book to him.
Foreign Office - Unsigned letter [from Arthur Ponsonby] enclosing a form letter completed in typescript from the Keeper of His Majesty's Privy Purse concerning the wearing of the Cross of Commander of the Legion of Honour, dated 17 Apr. 1926 and signed by Frederick Ponsonby.
Ambassade de France, à Londres - Has been in contact with La Combe, who contacted the Foreign Office, but says they cannot really ask about modifying an English law; he interprets the letter of the Keeper of the Privy Purse [Frederick Ponsonby, concerning wearing the Cross of Commander of the Legion of Honoour], and returns the documents.
Congratulations on engagement.
Royal Academy of Arts - Congratulates Frazer; when he saw Sir Frederick Ponsonby in the summer, Lamb had mentioned Frazer and Rutherford to him, so is particularly satisfied with the Honours List.