3-028-544 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

A Sandringham bouquet, 1870. 'Our Engraving represents a scene on the 18th December, one of the principal battue days lately enjoyed by the Prince of Wales [future King Edward VII] and his guests at Sandringham. The day was extremely wet, and unfavourable to their enjoyment of the sport; nevertheless, as their visit was short for the work to be done, the Royal party persevered, in spite of the rain-storm...After partaking of a hurried lunch in one of the keepers' lodges, the next beat was through the Home Avenue Woods, which afforded some more excellent sport. The great second show of pheasants took place at the end of a strip of cover leading out into the open centre of the wood...The birds driven before the beaters inside the cover are now compelled to make a general burst, which has been named "the bouquet." The guns stationed around to receive them are very frequently rendered by rapid firing too hot to hold in the hand, and are exchanged for other guns by the loaders. To the right is the Prince of Wales, and in the foreground his Royal Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, who brought down his birds in true sportsmanlike style...The sport throughout the week was extremely good, but, with some exceptions, carried on in bad weather'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.