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How Did Queen Victoria Die? Inside The British Monarch’s Final Illness And Rapid Demise In 1901
Public DomainThis photograph, taken of Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle circa 1900, may be the last portrait of the monarch.
Queen Victoria’s death in January 1901 marked the end of an era for the British Empire. At the time, she was the longest-reigning monarch in English history, a title that she held for over a century until Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her in 2015.
During her 63 years on the throne, Victoria expanded her empire, oversaw a period of industrial and scientific advancements, and restored the monarchy’s image after a series of unpopular rulers. She and her husband, Prince Albert, had nine children and 42 grandchildren whose descendants married into royal families across the continent, earning Victoria the nickname the “grandmother of Europe.”
By the turn of the 20th century, Queen Victoria’s health had started to decline. She had severe cataracts that left her essentially blind, and she suffered from rheumatism that made it difficult to move around. Then, while staying at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight over the Christmas season in 1900, the monarch suffered a series of strokes.
Queen Victoria died on Jan. 22, 1901. Her eldest son, Albert Edward, succeeded her as King Edward VII, bringing an official end to the Victorian era that changed history.
The Final Days Of Queen Victoria
The year 1900 was a difficult one for Queen Victoria. Her eldest daughter was dying from breast cancer, her son Alfred passed away, and she was dealing with several health struggles of her own.
Due to rheumatism in her legs, the monarch largely relied on a wheelchair to get around. She also had severe cataracts that left her mostly blind, though she continued to dutifully write in her diary daily.
During the holiday season, Victoria traveled to Osborne House, a royal residence on the Isle of Wight. Sadly, her troubles followed her there. The queen’s close friend Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill, who was also staying at the mansion, was found dead in her bed on Christmas morning. Victoria’s personal doctor, Sir James Reid, didn’t want anyone to tell the monarch the tragic news, fearing it would damage her health. Indeed, when the queen did learn of Jane’s death, she was so shocked that she had trouble eating.
Public DomainOsborne House, the royal residence where Queen Victoria died in 1901.
On New Year’s Day 1901, Queen Victoria wrote in her diary: “Another year begun, — I am feeling so weak & unwell, that I enter upon it sadly.”
Throughout early January, the queen started eating less and less, often nibbling on nothing more than a small slice of boiled chicken or sirloin steak. She recorded her final diary entry on Jan. 13:
“Had a fair night, but was a little wakeful. Got up earlier & had some milk… Out before 1, in the garden chair, Lenchen & Beatrice going with me. — Rested a little, had some food, & took a short drive with Lenchen & Beatrice. — Rested when I came in & at 5.30, went down to the Drawingroom, where a short service was held, by Mr. Clement Smith, who performed it so well, & it was a great comfort to me. — Rested again afterwards…”
Five days later, on Jan. 18, Dr. Reid noticed that the left side of the queen’s face was drooping. He diagnosed her with a paralytic stroke — and news about the potentially impending death of Queen Victoria quickly spread.
Queen Victoria’s Death After 63 Years On The Throne
On Jan. 19, 1901, family members from across Europe began arriving at Osborne House. Journalists gathered at the gate to await news of Victoria’s health, but the queen herself seemingly didn’t want to admit that her time had come.
The monarch reportedly told Dr. Reid on Jan. 19, “I should like to live a little longer, as I have still a few things to settle.” However, she continued to decline.
Public DomainSir James Reid, the personal physician to Queen Victoria.
On Jan. 21, the queen’s eldest son and the heir to the throne, Albert Edward, arrived along with Kaiser Wilhelm II, her eldest grandson. That day, she had a brief burst of energy and asked Dr. Reid if she was any better. He told her that she was, and she asked if her favorite Pomeranian, Turi, could be placed on her bed.
Then, in the early morning hours of Jan. 22, it became clear that Queen Victoria’s death was imminent. She had ruled for so long that her family reportedly turned to her old journals for advice on how to handle the situation, looking through the entries Victoria had written at the time of her ascension to the throne.
Around 3 p.m., the royal family gathered around Victoria’s bedside to read Bible passages and sing hymns. According to the Jan. 22, 1901, issue of The Evening Times, an official bulletin was issued at 4 p.m. that simply stated, “The Queen is slowly sinking.”
Public DomainQueen Victoria on her deathbed shortly after she passed away.
Princess Helena, the fifth of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s nine children, later wrote, “I shall never forget the look of radiance on her face at last when she opened her dear eyes quite wide & one felt & knew she saw beyond the Border Land & had seen & met all loved ones.”
There are several conflicting records of the queen’s final words, but some say she simply uttered, “Bertie…” in the moments before her death. This likely referred to her heir, Albert, but she may have also been thinking of her husband who had passed away nearly 40 years earlier.
Queen Victoria died at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, 1901. At 6:45, the mayor of London received a telegram from Albert that read, “My beloved mother has just passed away surrounded by her children and grandchildren.”
Albert immediately took the throne as King Edward VII, and the Victorian era came to an end.
The Royal Funeral And The Queen’s Interment
Three years before Queen Victoria’s death, the monarch had written strict instructions for her funeral. Although she had been wearing black since her husband had passed away in 1861, she didn’t want to be laid to rest in dark colors. Instead, she asked to wear a white dress and a wedding veil.
A plaster cast of her late husband’s hand was placed in her coffin — as well as a lock of hair from John Brown, Victoria’s favorite servant. Brown was unpopular within the royal family because of his influence on the queen, and some people even believed the two had been engaged in a romantic relationship. However, there’s no real evidence that they were anything more than good friends.
Public DomainThe queen’s funeral procession before she was laid to rest alongside Prince Albert.
The queen’s funeral on Feb. 2, 1901, was one of the largest gatherings of European royalty in history. Victoria was known as the “grandmother of Europe” because many of her nine children, 42 grandchildren, and 87 great-grandchildren married into other monarchies across the continent.
Queen Victoria was interred next to Prince Albert in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore Estate in Windsor, England, just outside of London. When Albert had died, sculptor Carlo Marochetti had crafted a marble effigy of both the prince and the queen, and her statue was placed in the tomb alongside Albert’s upon her death.
After four decades, the queen was reunited with her beloved husband at last.
After reading about the death of Queen Victoria, go inside the gruesome death of King Henry II of France. Then, discover the stories behind 11 other weird royal deaths.
The post How Did Queen Victoria Die? Inside The British Monarch’s Final Illness And Rapid Demise In 1901 appeared first on All That's Interesting.
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