Queen Victoria’s journal: The funeral of Prince Alfred, 4th August 1900

On 4th August 1900, Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, was buried at Friedhof am Glockenberg, Coburg. However, due to her age and fragile health, Queen Victoria was unable to attend.

“Another most trying day. At 12 (11 here) the funeral service will take place at the Moritz Kirche & to-night our beloved Affie will be laid to rest near poor young Alfred, in the family burial place. I cannot realise that we shall never see him again or hear his voice & merry laugh, which I hear always ringing in my ears! He was my own dear child, so full of talent & we had such hopes of him in his new responsibilities & the position he was filling so well. — At 11 we had a service, at the same time as the one at Coburg. My daughters & Thora as well as Beatrice’s Children, & all the Ladies & Gentlemen were present with me. I had specially invited Sir Michael Culme Seymour, Sir John Fullerton, Lieut: Pelly, from the Yacht, Dr Bankart, Capt: Neville of the “Australia”, who had been with dear Affie in the “Galatia”, Col: Kirchhofen, commanding the Marines at Portsmouth, & some of the Blue Jackets from the “Victoria & Albert”. The service included the following Hymns: “God of the living” & “On the Resurrection morn”, also the anthem “Brother thou art gone before us”. There were some very beautiful prayers, & portions of the Burial Service were read. The whole had been admirably arranged by Mr Clement Smith. It was most impressive hearing the minute guns being fired by the “Australia”, who had come round to Osborne Bay for that purpose. — Sat out afterwards. There was also a memorial service in the Chapel Royal, attended by all the family who were in London. — Late in the afternoon heard from Bertie, as well as Arthur & Ld Hopetoun, that the sad ceremony at Coburg was over, & all had gone off well. — Tea out, & read despatches & telegrams. Drove with Lenchen & Beatrice. Fine evening, but windy. — We 4 dined alone together, & the Bishop of Winchester came to see me afterwards in the Drawing room. —“

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