The DEATH Of Queens | Victoria, Alexandra, Mary

Victoria

In July 1900, tragedy struck as Victoria’s second son, Alfred, passed away, deepening her personal sorrows in what she described as a "horrible year." As her health declined, Victoria spent her last Christmas at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, battling rheumatism and deteriorating eyesight from cataracts. By January 1901, she was increasingly frail and confused. She died on January 22, 1901, at the age of 81, in the company of her eldest son, Albert Edward, who then became King Edward VII, and her grandson Wilhelm II.

Victoria had specified her funeral wishes back in 1897: a militarythemed ceremony befitting a soldier’s daughter and the head of the army, but unusually, she requested a white funeral. When she passed, her body was adorned in her wedding veil, alongside personal mementos and symbols of her loved ones, including a lock of John Brown’s hair and his photograph, which were discreetly placed in her hand under a bunch of flowers. Her funeral, held on February 2, was conducted at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and she was laid to rest next to Prince Albert in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore.

Victoria’s 63year reign was the longest of any British monarch and the longest of any queen regnant globally until surpassed by Elizabeth II in 2015. She was the last monarch from the House of Hanover, as her son belonged to the House of SaxeCoburg and Gotha.


Alexandra
Despite her failing health, Queen Adelaide made her last public appearance with a significant act of charity and faith. She laid the foundation stone for the Church of St John the Evangelist in Great Stanmore, also donating the font for the church. After her death, the east window of the church was dedicated to her memory, honoring her contributions.

Adelaide passed away on December 2, 1849, during the reign of her niece, Queen Victoria. Her death occurred naturally at Bentley Priory in Middlesex. True to her humble nature, she had previously penned down her wishes for her funeral during an illness in 1841, requesting a simple and private ceremony, free from any pomp or grand state display. She expressed a desire for peace and modesty, wishing her funeral to reflect the tranquility with which she hoped to enter the afterlife. Accordingly, she was interred quietly in the Royal Vault at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, following her own directives for simplicity and humility. This approach to her final farewell reflected her lifelong values of humility and the importance of spiritual over worldly wealth.

Mary Of Teck
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.