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

In the House of Commons the Marquis of Hart-
ington, having previously conferred shortly with Sir
S. Northcote on the front Opposition bench, said:
Mr. Speaker, I deeply regret to announce that in-
telligence has been officially received of the death of
his Royal Highness the Duke of Albany at Cannes.
My colleagues and I have inquired as fully as pos-
sible in the short period which has elapsed since the
news was received into the precedents which bear
upon this melancholy event, and it appears that it
has not been usual under these circumstances to move
the adjournment of the House. I, however, desire to
give notice that on Monday next the Prime Minister,
if he is well enough to be in his place, or I, in his
absence, will move an address of condolence to her
Majesty and her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Albany.
Sir S. Northcote said : Allow me to say, sir, that
the House shares with the noble lord the feeling of
grief and distress at the terrible news which has so
suddenly come upon us. It is for the Government to
decide what is in accordance with the usual precedents
in these matters, and I must say that as the decision
is to bring forward an address on Monday, we shall be
in our places to take part in that address.

The telegram announcing the sad event reached
Windsor about noon. Sir Henry Ponsonby was at the
Castle at the time, and the message conveyed over the
Queen's private wire was first given to him. He tele-
graphed instantly to Lord Granville to have the news
confirmed, and before long found himself in the pain-
ful and responsible position of having to break it to
the Queen. Her Majesty, it would seem, was thoroughly
prostrated with grief, so much so as even to cause
anxiety to those in the Castle. However, after a most
painful ebullition of grief, she seemed to rally. Her
Majesty at once requested Princess Beatrice to pro-
ceed to Claremont to visit the Duchess of Albany,
who is in a very delicate state of health. Shortly
before three o'clock the Empress Eugenie, clad in the
deepest mourning, arrived at the Castle, and was
received by one of the officers of the Castle. The
Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Kenmare, arrived at
the Castle soon after the news was made known in
official circles. After a long conversation with
Sir Henry Ponsonby he left again for London.
The Empress Eugenie left the Castle about seven
o'clock, and informed a few privileged inquirers,
between frequent sobs, that the Queen bore up
wonderfully. Her Majesty appeared to obtain relief
by giving vent to her grief in the presence of one who
had suffered so much. So rapidly did the news
spread on the Continent that by six o'clock her
Majesty had received several telegrams of condolence
from Royal personages abroad. In the evening Sir
John Cowell, Master of the Royal Household, by
command of her Majesty, left for Cannes in order to
make arrangements for the removal of the remains to
Windsor Castle.

At Claremont the whole household was thrown into
a state of profound gloom by the mournful tidings.
Within the last few days intelligence had been received
announcing the speedy return of the Duke from
Cannes. He was to have reached England on Monday
next, and !preparations were already on foot in antici-
pation of his arrival at Claremont on the day follow-
ing. The sudden revulsion caused by the announce-
ment of his death may, under these circumstances, be
imagined. The fact that his Royal Highness
had met with an accident was known to the
household on Thursday evening, the Duchess
of Albany having received a telegram to the effect
from the Duke himself. The nature of the
accident was not described, but its slight character
was emphasized, and the general tone of the message
was such that no one was really alarmed at its
contents. The Duchess retired to rest fully assured
that the morrow would bring a bulletin announcing
her husband's complete restoration to his normal
state of health, a belief shared by the Princess
Christian, who was staying at Claremont. It was not
for a moment thought that the accident was of a
sufficiently serious nature to delay the Duke's return
home. Soon after luncheon on Friday Princess
Christian received a telegram from the Duke of
Albany's medical attendant, Mr. Royle, who had ac-
companied him on his journey. It contained the
simple announcement that his Royal Highness had
expired in a fit. Princess Christian broke the news
to the Duchess as gently as possible. Her grief
was painful to witness ; but after an interval she
became calmer, and was able to converse a short
time with Princess Frederica of Hanover, who, having
heard the news, had driven over from Hampton
Court to condole with her Royal Highness. Shortly
after the receipt of the telegram from Cannes a mes-
sage was received from her Majesty the Queen ex-
pressing her grief at the occurrence, and at four
o'clock Mdlle. Norele, who is in attendance on
Princess Beatrice, arrived from Windsor Castle
for the purpose of reassuring her Majesty as
to the condition of her daughter-in-law. It was
feared that the shock might permanently injure
the health of her Royal Highness. In addition to the
messages from the Queen, telegrams were received
during the afternoon from the Prince and Princess of
Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and others. In the
evening the Marchioness of Lorne arrived at Esher
from Kensington Palace.

The news was received by the Prince of Wales
while he was in Lord Sefton's box on the Grand Stand
at the Aintree Racecourse, and the intimation greatly
affected his Royal 'Highness. The telegram conveying
the sad intelligence reached the stand while the
.Grand
National Steeplechase was in progress, and it was
its
importance, to the Prince's equerry, who, not knowing
importanceovaited until the race had concluded, when
he gave it to his Royal Highness. The Prince
was much moved by the news of his brother's
death coming thus suddenly upon him- In-
deed, he seemed as if he could hardly
realise the truth even as he turned to Lord
Sefton and said, "Albany is dead." The whole
party from Croxteth manifested sorrowful surprise
when the fact was made known. The Prince of
W m ales himself at once returned from the box to thg
private room, and as soon as possible drove from the
course to Croxteth in a closed carriage. As he wat
about to enter, the bystanders, uneonicions of wha
had happened, were commencing to cheer the Princ:
of Wales, when Lord Sefton, with a significant motic
of the hand, indicated that the time was not one f
rejoicing. The Prince arrived at Easton Station A