Monday, December 5, 2011

Former Empress of Mexico is dying


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December 5, 1925

The Associated Press is reporting that former Empress Charlotte of Mexico is "gravely ill," and is "sinking rapidly.   She is suffering from "acute bronchitis with pulmonary congestion," according to a statement released by her doctors.  Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians has been at Charlotte's bedside, and the royal family "has been informed of the patient's condition hourly."

Charlotte, who suffers from mental illness, is the widow of Emperor Maximilian.  She is the daughter of King Leopold I of the Belgians, and, thus, the aunt of the present King Albert.  She was born at Laeken on June 7, 1870.   In 1857, she married Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who later became Emperor of Mexico.

Empress Charlotte is 85 years old.

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