With the exception of Sundays, Queen Pirouette rose every morning at five o’clock. Dressed in her morning attire: a chemise, covered with a plain robe of cotton (in the summer) or fox fur (in the winter) stockings and slippers, she would hear a brief mass. Afterwards, she would sit down to a simple breakfast of fresh bread, fruit, cheese and hot tea. For the next two hours, the Queen would review dispatches and letters from generals, ambassadors, spies and local officials from beyond the capital. During this time, she required complete quiet. Any sources of unwelcome noises were immediately dealt with- ladies of the bedchamber would expel any offenders, no matter their rank. With a shush and a shove, noisy courtiers were driven from the royal presence.
Beautiful Photographs 