Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Bulletins regarding the health of the Prince Consort

December 14, 1861

"His Royal Highness the Prince Consort has had a quieter night and there is some mitigation of the severity of the symptoms."

At 10:40 a.m, the following telegram was dispatched:

"There is a slight change for the better in the Prince this morning." 

This was followed by bulletin from Windsor Castle at 4:30 p.m.

"His Royal Highness the Prince Consort is in a most critical state."

Windsor Castle, Saturday Night, December 14.

"His Royal Highess the Prince Consort became rapidly weaker during the evening and expired without suffering at 10 minutes before 11 o'clock."

All the bulletins were signed by the Prince Consort's four doctors: James Clark, Henry Holland, Thomas Watson, & William Jenner.

By four p.m., it was apparent to all that Queen Victoria's husband would not survive the night.  The Queen, the Prince of Wales, Princesses Alice and Helena and the Prince and Princess of Leiningen "were all with their illustrious relative during all of this mournful and trying period," according to The Times.

Just before nine in the evening, a telegram was "forwarded from Windsor to the city, stating that Prince Consort was then dying fast."   Without suffering, Prince Albert "continued to slowly sink, so slowly that the wrists were pulseless long before the last moment had arrived, when at a few minutes before 11, he ceased to bring, and it was all over."

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