I’ve recently discovered Diaries of Note: a blog that posts a dairy entry from the same month and day as a person’s actual journal. It’s now become a daily routine to read the entry that day to see what another person was doing, in a different time, at a different place. It also shows what journalling can be like – that it doesn’t need to be recounts of the day, or something monotonous – but can be anything you want, in whatever style you want to tell it.

Here’s yesterday’s entry from none other than Queen Elizabeth, written in 1840:

“When day dawned (for we did not sleep much) and I beheld that beautiful angelic face by my side, it was more than I can express! He does look so beautiful in his shirt only, with his beautiful throat seen. 

We got up at ¼ p. 8. When I had laced I went to dearest Albert’s room, and we breakfasted together. He had a black velvet jacket on, without any neckcloth on, and looked more beautiful than it is possible for me to say. At 12 I walked out with my precious Angel, all alone—so delightful, on the Terrace and new Walk, arm in arm! Eos [Albert’s greyhound] our only companion. We talked a great deal together. We came home at one, and had luncheon soon after. Poor dear Albert felt sick and uncomfortable, and lay down in my room… He looked so dear, lying there and dozing.”