From Queen Victoria to the Empress Frederick – 24 January 1891

From Queen Victoria to the Empress Frederick – Osborne, 24 January 1891

How terrible, how awful is this death of dear young Baudouin¹, ‘the hope’ of the country, the pride of his poor parents and the comfort of poor King Leopold who treated him as a son! I send you these telegraphic details from Lord Vivian and will send you any more I get. Attached as you are and, as you know, I am to our dear Belgian relations², you will share my true and deep sorrow for them. Good, excellent Marie Flanders³, what a grief to her! The dear boy was clever and charming and just 21. Oh, it is too grievous! Henriette⁴ was I believe as nearly gone as possible last week. The cold was very intense in Belgium too and I suppose perhaps in Baudouin’s case attention was not paid at once to the symptoms…⁵

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1. Prince Baudouin of Belgium was the nephew and heir of King Leopold II of Belgium
2. King Leopold I of Belgium was Queen Victoria’s uncle
3. Prince Baudouin’s mother
4. Prince Baudouin’s sister
5. Beloved and Darling Child – Edited by Agatha Ramm