The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-05 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE

DUKE OF ALBANY.
The intelligence of the painfully sudden death of
the Duke of Albany, which was announced on Friday
in last week, sent a shock over London and the whole
country. The daily papers Oif Saturday gave detailed
accounts of the sad event, which were read with the
most painful interest. Me Times correspondent at
Cannes, writing on Friday night, says:
His Royal Highness, who had just completed a five
weeks' visit to his former equerry and attached friend,
Captain Percival, had, to all appearances, greatly
profited by his stay in the South. He had improved
wonderfully in aspect, and during several days past
had been in buoyant spirits. No indication whatever
of the terrible catastrophe at hand could have been
even surmised yesterday afternoon, on his return from
a two days' sojourn at Nice.
The Duke while mounting the stairs rather rapidly,
at the Cercle Nautique here, slipped, fell, and hurt
his right knee—the same from injuries to which he
had previously suffered. Dr. Royle, who was in
attendance on his Royal Highness, at once applied
splints and bandages, and the illustrious patient was
conveyed in a carriage to the Villa Nevada, which is
situated on the heights overlooking the town, near the
Hotel de la Californie. There he was immediately
put to bed, tho appliances were removed, and lie
showed few or no signs of any great pain. He read
the newspapers, and they were read to him, and lie
conversed gaily. About seven p.m. he took some tea,
and a couple of hours later a light supper, after which
he again read for some time.
Dr. Royle, who slept in the room, was startled
about 2.30 a.m. by the Duke's heavy breathing, and
on approaching the bedside found him in a fie. He
at once called Captain Percival, but the fatal crisis
was of short duration, for in six minutes the Duke of
Albany breathed his last, in the arms of Captain
Percival. His end was apparently painless. As to
the cause of death, it is stated to have been effusion
of blood on the brain, inducing an epileptic convul-
sion. _ _ _ .

The painful news was at once telegraphed to her
Majesty the Queen at Windsor, where it arrived
early in the afternoon. Here it was not circulated
until late in the day, and needless to say it spread a
deep gloom over the English colony. At Nice, also,
where his Royal Highness had been seen in excellent
health and spirits on Tuesday, the impression was
equally marked.

The following notification of the death of his Royal
Highness was published in a supplement to the L07U1071
Gazette: "Whitehall, March 28, 1884. On Friday,
28th instant, at two o'clock in the morning his Royal
Highness Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, K.G.,
fourth son a her Majesty the Queen, departed this
life at Cannes, to the great grief of her Majesty and
of all the Royal Family."

The announcement of the sad event was made in
both Houses of Parliament immediately on their
assembling.
In the House of Lords, Earl Granville, shortly
after taking his seat on the front Ministerial bench,
rose and said: It is with deep concern that I have to
announce to your lordships that her Majesty the
Queen has lost her youngest son, the Duke of Albany,
by death at Cannes; but I do not propose to move
the adjournment of the House, as it is better, in a
matter of this sort, not to yield to natural impulse,
but to follow the precedents in both Houses; I will,
however, give no ce that on Monday next I will move
an address of condolence to the Queen and the rest
of the Royal Family.
The Earl of Carnarvon said: My lords, in the
absence of my noble friend, the Marquis of Salisbury,
I merely rise to say that which would have been
much better said by my noble friend, that it is with
deep grief and consternation that we have received
this announcement. After what the noble lord has
said, it would be improper in me to say another
word.