The last days of Queen Louise as described by Countess Voss

Countess Voss was a lady-in-waiting of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia, and she described the last days of the Queen in her diary.

1 July

I was awoke very early at Gross-Giewitz by a courier with a letter from Schilden, who wrote in the King’s name to tell me that the Queen was ill, and that I must return immediately. I went at once with my grandson, as quickly as I could to Hohen-Zieritz, where the Court was, and found the Queen alarmingly altered, and in my opinion most seriously ill. It was inflammation of the lungs, and the fever was very high; she had been bled already, and not only I but the King also was very frightened and anxious. Numbers of people came constantly from Strelitz to get news of the Queen; I went backwards and forwards to the sick-room. I had an exceedingly l^ad, small room, which was frightfully hot, and found all the arrangements in this seldom-used house very imperfect and insufficient.¹

2 July 

The Queen had a great deal of fever still, but she was as patient and gentle as ever. Frau von Berg drove to Gross-Giewitz, and my grandson Voss also went back there towards evening. The Strelitz Court physician, Hieronimo, hopes for the best and is not anxious.²

3 July

The King went early this morning through Rheinsberg back to Charlottenburg. The Queen is not worse than yesterday, but neither is she better. I am overwhelmed with kindness and attentions here, but I am depressed and cannot summon up courage; I fear this illness is very serious, and will not pass off quickly. In the afternoon, I sent a courier with a bulletin to the King.³

4 July 

The Queen is very suffering; did not sleep at all last night, and today towards evening got a violent headache; for a moment she was even very much excited and agitated. The ducal family and Princess Solms came to see her, but only for a very short time. People lead a terrible life here; they do nothing, but are always running about and boring themselves. I am constantly in the sickroom or in my own, and live quite by myself; every evening I send a courier to the King with the doctor’s report, and he always maintains that the course of the illness is just what it should be. Princess Solms sat up last night.⁴

5 July 

Last night was very bad, but today, on the contrary, better than yesterday. The King sent a courier to me, and wrote that he had got ague at Charlottenburg. I wanted to tell the Queen, and the doctor agreed with me, but the others interfered, even Schilden, and made a great outcry that it might do her harm; I was annoyed and held my tongue. Ah! How earnestly I wish that my poor Queen were better; I cannot bear to see her suffer so.⁵

6 July 

The Queen had a rather better night; the fever is very slight today, but she is very weak. A courier from Charlottenburg brought a bulletin from Wiedel and letters from Kockritz, which say that the King has fever, but they do not know yet what fever. I sent for the doctor and went with him to the Queen, that he might himself read to her the letters and bulletin about the King, and she was not at all agitated about it. My granddaughter Voss and Frau von Berg came over from Gross-Giewitz. I did not spend the day in the Queen’s room, but only went in often, as the members of the ducal family were constantly with her. People here, unfortunately, lead such an idle, unoccupied life that nobody ever does anything sensible, and neither can I now on account of the nursing, but I shall be truly thankful when we can get away from this.⁶

7 July 

The doctor told me that the Queen had coughed less in the night; she had no fever at all in the morning, and was only very weak. I saw her several times but did not dare to speak to her, as she had not enough peace and quiet without that. But what can I do? I have never been treated as I have been here; neither in the Queen’s confinements nor illnesses have I ever been kept so much away from her. I fear it will be a long time before the Queen recovers from this illness and its consequences. According to Kockritz’s letters, the King is getting better. As the courier arrived in the doctor’s absence, I did not give the King’s letter to the Queen, and indeed saw, unfortunately, hardly anything of her all day. I sent a courier to Chaiiottenburg, and wrote to beg that the cook Schraden might come here. Frau Schulz arrived here at last this morning.⁷

8 July

Sunday. — I did not go to church, that I might not be out of the way for a moment, for my anxiety about the Queen is still very great in spite of the momentary improvement. I saw her for above a quarter of an hour, to give her news of the King in presence of the doctor. Her cough and weakness are really terrible, but she slept more quietly today. Her sister is constantly with her. May Almighty God take pity upon us! In the evening, the Queen was not so well; the fever returned, with violent coughing, perspiration, and great weakness; the doctor says that it is all right and must run its course. I cannot interfere or do anything, and, under these circumstances, have a very weary time here. The King unfortunately has still got fever; the courier came today as usual, and I answered by him. I sent to Gross-Giewitz for a horsehair cushion for the Queen, and they sent me one belonging to little Felix, which I took to the Queen.⁸

9 July 

The Queen slept badly, with much heat and fever, and yet the doctor persists still that she is going on well. I only saw her for a little while and found her weak and exhausted beyond belief. The Duke is impatient and irritable about everything. The courier brought a favourable bulletin from the King, who, thank God, is better. For the last two days, I have had supper alone with Prince George. Frau von Berg has gone to Berlin.⁹

10 July

The Queen has slept little, is very weak; her cough is worse, and in my opinion, she is feverish again. Princess Solms is always with her, and I could unfortunately only see her for a moment. After dinner, Dr Heim arrived at last, sent by the King; he saw the Queen, thought that it might have been better to bleed her again, but on the whole, that she had been quite rightly treated. But she still has fever; this is the eleventh day, and Heim thinks also that the illness will not be a short one. It is a heavy time, God only knows how heavy! I received a courier from Wittgenstein, who begged for news of the Queen, and then one from the King; wrote many letters for both couriers, and then remained quite alone, even for supper.¹⁰

11 July

Heim thinks there is more fever again today, and the poor dear Queen has not slept well either; and yet he has every hope, insists only upon great care and prudence, for he says the lungs have suffered. He dined with the Duke, played whist with him in the evening, and was in a very amiable temper. The courier came and went as usual; I gave the Queen a letter from the King, and then wrote to him according to my custom. I think he must have written to the Queen about me, at least she said something to me and was very kind and pleasant to me.¹¹

12 July

Heim went away, alas! This evening, he is not thoroughly satisfied with the Queen’s state; the fever, cough, and weakness remain unchanged, and he says that it is not only inflammation of the lungs, but in consequence of that, she has had a sort of abscess in the lungs, which has now burst, and it is that which has caused the cough. It is this also that may become serious if great care is not observed; Hieronimo says that he was aware of all this before, but I doubt it, for it was Heim who pointed it out to him. May God help us! I suffer more than I can say in my trouble of heart. The ducal party went out driving; I did not leave my room and wrote letters for Heim to take with him in answer to innumerable inquiries.¹²

13 July 

The poor Queen slept but little, and has still much fever; leeches were applied, and she lost a great deal of blood; this lasted nearly six hours, and then warm sponges were laid on to allow the blood to flow, and so it went on all day. I was not even informed of all this, or called in, and the way in which I am treated and kept away from my Queen is terrible to my feelings. God grant only that the Queen may be saved; I will not think about myself. In the evening, I wrote to the King, and in the morning, I sent off a second courier to summon Frau Reinbrecht, as the elder waiting-woman has fallen ill. We had a great scene between the doctor and the cook; the former has a very high opinion of himself.¹³

14 July 

A rather better night; Frau von Berg arrived, saw the Queen for a little while, and talked a great deal to her about Charlottenburg, where she had just been, and wishes to sit up with her. I saw the dear Queen only for a very little; she is never now quite without fever; the doctor is furious about the senseless arrangements of the sick-room, but I cannot make any changes; it is a dreadful state of things here, and causes me terrible grief and anxiety to see it. I only went very late to rest for a few hours, but oh! I have no rest now!¹⁴

15 July

Sunday. — I did not go to church, of course, Frau von Berg had sat up; the poor dear Queen has again had a great deal of fever, coughed much, and slept little. Her breathing is now very short and the cough much more persistent than before. I saw the Queen several times today and for longer; the younger Reinbrecht had arrived and brought the Queen a letter from the King, which gave her great pleasure, and in consequence of which she asked more frequently for me, and again showed me the most touching kindness and goodness. Ah! Indeed, I know without her telling me so kindly that it is not her fault! An entertainment given by Prince Schwarzenberg in Paris has had a horrible termination; a fire broke out in the ballroom, and the unfortunate Princess was burnt to death while looking for her daughter.¹⁵

16 July

The Queen, thank God, had a much quieter night: when I first saw her this morning, I found her decidedly better than yesterday, but still short of breath. As she already sees too many people, I remained, out of prudence and anxiety for her, only a short time in the sick-room, painful as it is to me not to see her. At twelve o’clock, Herr von Buch called me just as I had gone to my room; the poor Queen was seized with frightful spasms. I flew to her; the whole family was in the room, and the doctor; the Queen’s face was quite distorted, and she seemed to be choking. I trembled with fear, and could not conceive how this new misfortune could have come so suddenly. The attack lasted a long time. I sent the courier Muller to the King, to whom I wrote everything; the doctor also wrote to Heim to come at once, and bring a surgeon with him. God grant that they may all soon come! I have great fears for her. The rest of the day was comparatively free from pain, and so was the evening. I received a courier from Wittgenstein. Oh! What anxiety! What grief!¹⁶

17 July

The Queen had spasms again this morning; her breathing is very short; I think her very ill. After dinner arrived Heim, Gerke, and Schmidt, and found her in great danger. They think that the lungs are seriously affected, and recovery almost impossible. God alone knows what sorrow rends my heart as I write this. I gave the Queen a letter from the King, which she could not read at first; but a little later she did, and was indescribably happy over it. Princess Solms and Frau von Berg have both been continually in her room for some days past, and always sit up together. I sent Büchner as a courier to the King, with a letter from Heim; then came my grandson Voss from Berlin; he had been with the King, and brought me a most kind and gracious letter from him. My grandson went away this evening; Dr Gerke sat up with the Queen, and I only went in from time to time, as I do every night.¹⁷

18 July

My poor Queen is very ill today; each time that I went to her, I thought her worse and more altered. Heim sent a courier to the King in the morning, and a little later I sent Hoffmann to him, and wrote to him again that the Queen was still worse. I sat by her bedside till midnight. Oh! My poor Queen, she was terribly ill.¹⁸

19 July

Ah! What an unhappy, dreadful day! I hoped in vain all night that the King would come; at one o’clock, I went to my room for a moment; I was called back hastily, as the Queen’s condition was getting worse every moment. She could hardly breathe at all, then sickness came on, and repeated fainting. At last, about five o’clock, the King arrived, but the Queen had already the mark of death upon her brow. And yet how she received him! With what joy she embraced and kissed him, while he wept bitterly! The Crown Prince and Prince William had come with him; the poor Queen tried to speak to them as much as was still possible to her; she wanted so to talk to the King, and could not. So it went on, and she grew constantly weaker. The King sat on the edge of the bed, and I knelt beside it; he tried to warm the Queen’s cold hands, then held one, and put the other into my hands, that I might rub it warm.

It was about nine o’clock; the Queen had turned her head gently to one side, and looked fixedly up to heaven. With her great eyes wide open, and looking upwards, she said, “I am dying; oh! Jesus, help me!” It was a moment such as no one could ever forget. I begged the King to close her eyes, for the last breath had flown. The sobs and tears of the unhappy King, of the children, and all who knelt around, were terrible. The ways of God are inscrutable and holy, but they are hard to follow. The King, the children, the country, the Court, all, yes, all, have lost in her everything in the world. I do not speak of myself, but oh! My sorrow is great.

The King charged Schilden and me to see to everything which has to be done in the Queen’s room, and to the watching by her, and all other matters. The master of the household and Countess Truchsess kept watch the first night in the room where our guardian angel, our departed Queen lay; the second night the officers kept watch, and the third night the gentlemen-in-waiting, with officers also in the ante-chamber and a waitingwoman always with the lady-in-waiting. Herr von Buch went away immediately to take the news to Berlin; soon after arrived the Prince and Princess of Orange, the Princess of Hesse and the Countess Brandenburg; then Countess Tauenzien, Gaudy and Wrangel, some of whom had to go to Strelitz, to be lodged in the palace there.¹⁹

20 July 

I live still in spite of my grief! She is hardly at all changed; they examined the body, and found a polypus in the heart, the right lung almost gone; in any case, she could not have lived long, and must have suffered much. The doctors say that the polypus in the heart is the residue of great and constant sorrow, of which she has had so much! The poor King is in a state of dull despair. I sat with him for a long time; he is always going into her room. I cannot imagine how he is ever to control and calm himself and bear it. My grandson Voss arrived, and he and Colonel Bork went into waiting with the King. The Princes and Princesses, who came from Berlin yesterday and spent the night at Strelitz, all came over from there today, and at four o’clock went back to Berlin. The King and his children went away at six this evening, poor young Princess Charlotte and Prince Charles too, who, to their great grief, only arrived a few hours after the death. Countess Tauenzien remained here and kept watch for the night. In the evening, an impression in wax was taken of the Queen’s face, for a bust of her to be made.²⁰

1. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.192
2. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.192
3. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.193
4. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.193
5. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.193-194
6. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.194-195
7. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.195
8. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.195-196
9. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.196-197
10. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.197
11. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.197-198
12. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.198
13. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.199
14. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.199-200
15. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.200
16. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.200-201
17. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.201-202
18. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.202
19. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.202-204
20. Sixty-nine years at the Court of Prussia, from the recollections of the mistress of the household p.204-205