George V. (1865–1936) [King of Great Britain] Bryan Godfrey Godfrey-Faussett (1863–1945)

Letter from King George V’s Equerry about time spent in Bermuda

Royal naval officer, equerry (attendant) to King George V and a close intimate of the royal family. Autograph letter signed. (“Bryan Godfrey-Faussett”). 3 pages. 8vo. Palermo, 19 April 1925. On the embossed stationery of H.M. Yacht Victoria & Albert. To Miss Daisy Watson, the daughter of Sir George Willes Watson (1827–1897), the former Commander-in-Chief of the North America and West Indies Station.

My Dear Miss Watson, The King was very sorry to hear of the death of Lady Watson, and he desires me to send you a message of most sincere sympathy in your great loss. His Majesty can never forget the happy days he spent at Halifax and Bermuda with Lady Watson, the Admiral and yourself nor the Kindness and hospitality shown to him always by your Father and Mother.May I also for myself offer you my very true sympathy. Believe me dear Miss Watson Yrs. very sincerely Bryan Godfrey-Faussett

George V was the grandson of Queen Victoria and the son of King Edward VII. In his youth, he served in the Navy with his elder brother. Together, in 1880, the young princes first visited Bermuda aboard the H.M.S. Bacchante. In 1891, Prince George again visited Bermuda, this time aboard the H.M.S. Thrush. Our letter indicates that George visited the late Watsons in Bermuda as well as Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Godfrey-Faussett trained at the Royal Naval Colleges at Greenwich and Dartmouth and, in 1890, began acting as aide-de-campe for the then-Prince of Wales. From 1896 to 1897, he was stationed aboard the royal yacht, the H.M.S. Osborne. As part of George’s entourage, Godfrey-Faussett accompanied him on several voyages to India and a tour of the British Empire. Godfrey-Faussett’s intimacy with King George was such that the king was godfather to one of his sons and George’s son, Edward the Prince of Wales, was godfather to the other. After King George’s death, Godfrey-Faussett served kings Edward VIII and George VI as extra equerry until his death.

Admiral Watson was a Royal Navy vice admiral who served as Commander-in-Chief of the North America and West Indies Station from 1888 to 1892. During the American Civil War, he was accused of helping the Confederates by selling them the cruiser Florida. Our letter expresses the king’s sympathy over the death of Watson’s wife, Lady Margaretta Watson, née Campbell, whom he had married in 1864.

Folded with normal wear and in very good condition.

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