The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

Cunt ane lastian.

DEATH OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE
DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER.
WE deeply regret to announce that her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Gloucester expired a few minutes
after five o'clock on Thursday morning at Gloucester.
house, Piccadilly.
The following official statement was issued shortly
after the melancholy event had taken place :
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester expired,
without suffering, at a quarter after five o'clock this
morning.
FIIkNCIS
April 30, 1857. Enwmin H. HILLS.
Her late Royal Highness was the fourth daughter
of George 111., and, consequently, aunt to her pre-
sent Most Gracious Majesty. Her Royal Highness
was born on the 25th of April, 1776, and was there-
fore eighty-one years old at the time of her death.
On the 22nd of July, 1816, she was married to her
cousin, Prince William Frederick, second Duke of
Gloucester, who died '3oth November, 1834. Her
Royal Highness was Ranger and Keeper of Richmond
New Park. Every day during her late illness some
among the Royal Family visited the late Duchess at
Gloucester-house. The Duchess was the last stir-
vivor of the numerous children of George 111.
There were present at the last moments of the
Duchess, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of
Cambridge, the Princess Mary, and the Hereditary
Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, who had
remained at Gloucester-house during the night.
Two of the medical advisers of the Duchess were also
in attendance on her Royal Highness until the time
of her death.

Shortly after eight on Thursday morning her
Majesty's Lord Chamberlain arrived at Gloucester-
house, when orders were issued for the necessary
arrangements for her Royal Highness's fur eral.
This, it is presumed, will take place in the royal
mausoleum in St. George's Chapel, at Windsor
Castle. In accordance with the desire of the illus-
trious deceased, the funeral proceedings will be con..
ducted in a comparatively private manner. The
remains of the late Duchess will be placed by the
side of his late Royal Highness the Duke of
Gloucester. The bells of the numerous churches in
the metropolis tolled, and at the royal churches the
bells rang muffled peals. The tradesmen at the
West-end partially closed their shops out of respect
to the memory of her late Royal Highness.
We have authority to state that, in consequence
of the death of the Duchess of Gloucester, the state
aoartments at Windsor Castle will be closed until
further orders.
The theatres and opera-houses were closed on
Thursday evening, and will be closed o.i the evening
of the funeral of her Royal Highness.

Her Majesty continues to improve in health, and
will leave town shortly for a brief stay at Osborne.
Prince Alfred, who left Geneva, where lie has
passel the winter, on the Pith of April, arrived at
Gotha on the 20th, on a cisit to his uncle and aunt,
the reigning Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg, and
to his grandmother the Dowager Duchess. After a
stay of a fortnight at Gotha and Coburg, his Royal
Highness will continue his journey to England,
where he is expected to arrive about the 20th inst.

The Duke of Newcastle and family have returned
to town, from Cluzuber-park, for the Season.

SATURDAY,

His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the
Countess Persigny are expected in town from Palk
on the 16th instant.

Its Excellency the Russian Minister and the
Countess Citreptowitel► are expected to return to
Cltesha►n-house from Paris early in the week after
next.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford have arrived
at Woburn Abbey from Carlon-house, Kildare, where
they have been staying on a visit with the Duke and
Duchess of Leinster.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Tweeddale have
arrived in town from Yester house, Haddingtonshire.
Lady Palmerston's party for this evening is una-
voidably postponed.