FAREWELL OUR EMPRESS
Britain plunged into shock and grief as Victoria passes away at Osborne House
With deep regret we record the sorrowful news that our beloved Queen is no more. the official bulletin announcing her Majesty’s death was made known shortly after seven o’clock at Osborne house, isle of Wight, yesterday.
it ran: – Osborne, Jan 22, 1901, 6.45 pm Her Majesty the Queen breathed her last at 6.30 p.m. surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
the sad news of the Queen’s death was first made known in London through the telegram addressed to the Lord Mayor by the Prince of Wales. the Lord Mayor read the sorrowful announcement from the window of the Venetian parlour to an enormous crowd, who received it in profound silence. Bulletins issued during yesterday had prepared the nation for the worst. Meanwhile, the Duchess of York, with the children of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, arrived at Osborne just before the end.
MOURNING
they went from Victoria by special train in the afternoon. the Right hon A. J. Balfour travelled by the same train.
the Duke of Cambridge crossed to Dover last night from Calais, and came to London, going straight on to Osborne. Simultaneously with the Prince’s message, the Lord Mayor received a telegram from Mr Balfour at Osborne stating that the Queen died peacefully at 6.30pm.
At once the Lord Mayor communicated with the Dean of St Paul’s, by whose instructions the great bell was tolled.
it is expected that the proclamation of the new Sovereign upon his accession will take place tomorrow, with the usual pageantry. Neither the day, time, nor places of the ceremonial have yet been officially settled, nor can they be till the pleasure of the Sovereign has been made known.
the Queen’s health, which for so many years had been robust, began to fail about six months ago, when she was overtaken with sleeplessness, which it was impossible for her to overcome.
But it was only about six weeks ago that these symptoms developed the malady from which she died yesterday. the Queen herself had all along felt no particular alarm as to her condition, but she had always expressed a fear lest she should die without the consolation of having her beloved children and relatives about her, which fear was dispelled yesterday morning when she was enabled to recognise those about her.
THE LAST DAY: A special correspondent of the Daily Mail at East Cowes telegraphed last night as follows:
The announcement of the Queen’s death was made at the gates of Osborne at seven o’clock by Police-Superintendent Fraser in the following words: —
‘Gentlemen, the Queen passed away at half-past six o’clock.’