Last night I had dinner with the King and Queen, it was a belated Christmas dinner of sorts as the King was away on business over christmas and we’d not yet had a chance to celebrate with him. We dined on delicious seafood and salads and had rich chocolate cake for dessert 
It was lovely to spend the evening with my family and to go back to the enchanted forest where I grew up. 
I did miss seeing our beloved dog though, as she passed away a few months ago.
My Father gave me a new tripod for my camera and a beautiful fieldbook on wild birds! 
I love birdwatching and always carry a little container of birdseed with me in case I meet some friendly avians. When I was a little girl, one of my favourite things to do was to go down to the lake and feed the ducks and swans. Around the palace we have quite a few birds, Wagtails, Magpie Larks, Ravens and Honey-eaters. Sometimes I even see Rainbow Lorikeets!
The bird in this picture is a Turtledove, they are the sweetest little things and I often see them on the trellis outside my window, singing to eachother in their pretty little calls. 
They’re very shy and will fly away if you come too close. I would love to hang a bird feeder outside my window for them. The artwork is by Sophie Gengembre Anderson, one of my favourite painters.
Eugénie, the Last Empress of France was born in 1826 to the impressive name of Doña María Eugenia Ignatia Augustina Palafox de Guzmán Portocarrero y Kirkpatrick. The daughter of a Spanish Count and his half Scottish wife, Eugénie became the 9th Countess of Teba and later, the Empress of France. She was a beautiful, charming and elegant Lady who was both a leader of fashion, and an intelligent and capable Empress. She had political influence over her husband and was Regent during his absences.
