The Death Of Mary Of Teck

The final rites for Queen Mary, previously known as Princess Victoria Mary of Teck and the widow of King George V, occurred on March 31, 1953, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. This followed her passing on March 24, and prior to the funeral, her body lay in state at Westminster Hall. She died just shy of her 86th birthday and a mere ten weeks before her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, was to be crowned.
During her last year, Queen Mary grappled with profound grief following the death of her son, King George VI, the third of her children to pass away before her. Her health had been deteriorating due to a gastric illness, confining her to bed for about a month prior to her passing. Reports suggested that in her final month, she seemed to come to terms with the reality of her condition, feeling that she had accomplished her goal of safeguarding the monarchy and accepting that her life was reaching its natural conclusion. She also experienced discomfort from the light in her room, leading to the drawing of the curtains to shield her eyes.

On the 24th of March in 1953, Mary reportedly suffered a hemorrhage, prompting immediate concern for her health condition. At 11:40 am, a bulletin released from Marlborough House addressed these concerns. Subsequently, a second bulletin at 1:40 pm detailed a significant deterioration in her state, indicating a severe weakening of her heart function.
As the day progressed, updates were issued: at 7:00 pm, it was reported that Mary was gradually losing strength but resting peacefully. Tragically, she passed away in her sleep at Marlborough House at 10:20 pm. The official announcement, released at 11:15 pm and signed by Sir Horace Evans and Lord WebbJohnson, confirmed her passing. Her daughter, the Princess Royal, was by her side during her final moments.

Throughout the day, Mary's children and various members of the royal family gathered by her side. The Duke of Windsor, her eldest son, had visited her twice that day and returned to Marlborough House shortly after her passing. Both the Princess Royal and the Duke of Windsor had curtailed their holiday in the United States and the West Indies due to their mother's worsening condition.
Her other surviving son, the Duke of Gloucester, her granddaughters Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, her daughterinlaw Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and additional members of the royal family also paid their respects on her last day.
The day following Mary's passing saw a steady stream of royal family members visiting Marlborough House to pay their respects. Notably, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, along with a host of other relatives, gathered to honor her memory.
In the midst of this, a spokesperson for the Duchess of Windsor, who hadn't accompanied her husband to Britain, expressed her deep distress at the news of Mary's passing.

Reactions to Mary's passing were deeply ceremonial and widespread. The banner of her arms, which flew over Marlborough House, was respectfully lowered following the announcement of her death. Across government buildings and warships in the UK and throughout the British Commonwealth, flags were flown at halfmast as a sign of mourning, remaining so until after the funeral.
At 10:45 pm, Prime Minister Winston Churchill solemnly informed the House of Commons about her passing. He introduced a motion of condolence, which received support from Clement Attlee, the Leader of the Opposition. The Federal Parliament of Australia also paid tribute to her legacy.
Condolences poured in from various international figures, including Pope Pius XII, the King of Sweden, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, French President Vincent Auriol, German President Theodor Heuss, South Korean President Syngman Rhee, and diplomats from the British Commonwealth, among others.
The news of her demise prompted an interruption in BBC programming at 11:25 pm. All regular broadcasts were halted, making way for news updates and weather forecasts. The following day, both courts and the London Stock Exchange held a brief moment of silence before resuming their activities.
The Royal Household observed a monthlong mourning period until April 25. Official engagements involving the royal family were canceled during this time, respecting Mary's passing, although the coronation plans for her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, proceeded as per Mary's expressed wishes. The location for her funeral shifted due to preparations for the upcoming coronation, with Westminster Abbey ruled out as the venue.