Evening star., 1925-11-20
QUEEN ALEXANDRA
DIES IN 81ST YEAR
OF HEART ATTACK
British Empire Plunged Into
Gloom by Passing of
DoWager Empress.
KING GEORGE AT BEDSIDE
OF MOTHER UNTIL END
All Social Events Cancelled When
Illness Was Acknowledgment
Used to Save Life.
Sy the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
SANDRINGHAM. England, Novem-
ber 20.-Queen Mother Alexandra,
widow of King Edward VII, and
mother of King George V, died late
this afternoon at Sandringham House.
A bulletin signed by the attending
physicians. DR.. F. J. Williams and Sir
Thomas Horder, said:
Her majesty, Queen Alexandra
passed away at 5;25 O'Clock. The
King and Queen and members of the
royal family were present"
Queen Alexandra passed to rest
amid the peaceful rural surroundings
which she loved so we'll. Since Thurs
day morning, when the doctors an
nouncement made it patent that the
aged Queen was in a critical condi-
tion, the hamlet of Sandringham and
its tiny neighbors Wolferton and
Dersingham, which claimed her for
their very own, had waited heavy
hearted for the end.
Groups Hope Against Hope.
Throughout the long hours little
groups fingered, wet-eyed at the por-
tails of the royal residence, hoping
beloved mistress would survive.
Within a few days December u, the
Queen mother would have celebrated
the s1st anniversary of her birth. and
all the inhabitants had been prepar-
ing in elaborate fashion to celebrate
the event at Sandringham house.
Additional telegraphic apparatus
had been installed to cope with the
inevitable shower of congratulations
-t-lo <Np
the empire. This now is being used
TO tell her people in the four corners
of the earth Of how she died.
News of Attack Surprises.
Even to the people of Sandringham
who knew the frailty of their queen,
news of the menacing heart attack
came as a surprise. Only on We'd
nesday she was out driving, as was
her custom, and a few days ago 1t
was authoritatively stated that she
was In better health than for some
time past. So the news of the griev
Gus heart attack early Thursday
morning came as stunning blow.
The King and Queen, Prince Henry,
Princess Victoria and Queen Maud
of Norway (Alexandra's third daugh-
teri were already at Sandringham on
one of their customary visits. The
family gathering had not been pre-
arranged, as there seemed to be no
cause for special anxiety about the
condition of the queen mother.
King Rushes to Bedside.
King George was the host of a shoot.
ing party when news of the attack
reached him, and he rushed to his
mothers bedside. His first glimpse
Of the anxious. tear-stained faces of
he servants and officials of Sandring-
ham House told him palmer than
words Of the true situation. The King
stayed with his mother as long as the
doctors thought advisable. The ply
sicians and nurses remained in con-
stant attendance. Last evening the
son again visited the Queen mother.
At that time word was given out that
there had been no changes and that
the Queen was resting peacefully, but
the watchers learned the ominouS ad-
ditlonal fact that arrangements had
been made to summon the King at
any hour during the night.
People Show Anxiety.
All through the trying hours of
darkness there was keenest anxiety
among the people of the district, all
of whom knew the venerable widow of
Edward VII almost as one of their
own family.
Little groups waited along the high
way to Sandringham scanning every
passing vehicle and submitting any
arrivals from the royal house to
searching questioning.
Others fiocked to the places where
there were wireless installations. think
ing to get the first tidings of her con-
dition from one of the broadca sters.
A touching scene was enacted at one
OF these places when the radio an
nouncer suggested that nobody would
desire dance music in view of the
queen mothers grave condition and
closed the evenings program forth
with. The villagers stood stiffiy at at
tentton and listened bareheaded while
the radio hlared the strains of God
Save the King"
The Prince Of Wales and the Duke
of York were due to arrive at Wolf
erton, near Sandringham, by train
at 5:29 O'Clock, but the train was 16
minutes late. The Kings sons were
escorted to the royal waiting room
of the Wolferton station. where the
station master broke the news of
their grandmother death.
This morning the Princess Royal
Louise, eldest of Alexandra's three
daughters, arrived from London to
Join the other royalties here Thus
all the surviving children of the Queen
mother were at Sandringham. One of
the most pathetic figures on the scene
during the last trying hours was the
aged Miss Charlotte Knollys. who had
been in attendance upon her majesty
for 55 years. During all that time
throughout most of Alexandra's life
in ngland-NIisS Knollys rendered
service of striking devotion, receiving
in return the deep affection of her
royal mistress.
Long and Loving Association.
Perhaps there has been no parallel
IN the history Of the royal houses for
such a long and loving associa ton as
theirs. The Queen and Miss Knollys
lad grown old together and were al
most inseparable, the latter being
more a personal friend than a servant.
Miss Knollys, of about the same age
s AleXand also has been feeling the
avages OF time, and lately has been
.elieved of more than one round of
,er secretarial duties.
Queen Alexandra suffered a great
low in June when she lost another
I'd friend, Gen. Sir Dighton Probyn,
Nearer Of the Victoria Cross, who was
the controller of her household. He
las 81. and had served Alexandra
i.ithfully for 50 years. TO the last al
rGontinued on Page 2, Column A.