Emma Calvé and Queen Victoria were friends. Emma sang every season at Covent Gardens in London and would be invited to court. In Chapter eleven of "My Life" Emma speaks very fondly of Queen Victoria. " She was impressive, dominating, a real presence, in spite of her short stature and plain exterior." Emma claims and goes on to say that the Queen used to call her a child of nature because of Emma's inability to remember the rules of etiquette. Emma recounts how it was through these performances at Windsor Castle that she met many interesting personalities including the Czar and Czarina of Russia, the King of Bavaria, the King of Sweden and Greece and the Empress Eugenie.
Emma also recalls in her book that she was accidently locked in her room before her first performance at the castle. There had been a death of one of the staff and she had been forgotten. They only noticed Emma missing when she did not show up on stage for her performance. Emma also performed at Balmoral. The Queen's fondness for Emma Calvé is still on display in the Victoria Room at Windsor Castle. The Queen had a bust of Emma sculpted by the Countess Théodora de Gleiken with Emma assuming the role of Santuzza in "Cavalleria Rusticana".
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