Queen Victoria’s journal- 29th October 1900, The death of Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein

On 29th of October 1900, Prince Christian Victor, son of Princess Helena and grandson of Queen Victoria, died aged 33 in Pretoria, South Africa.

“Rather showery morning after some frost. — Saw Dr Bankart after breakfasted, who received late last night the news from the Doctor, that dear Christle had been playing cricked on the 9th, took to his bed on the 10th for malarial fever, & a week ago enteric supervened. At first he seemed to go on quite well, when last week the lungs became attacked, but the temperature was not very high, still the case was very serious. — Went out with Evelyn M., & on coming home, Beatrice came & told me, Thora begged not to come to luncheon as a telegram had come saying dear Christle was much worse. This I own took away all hope from me. — The Maharajah of Kapurthala, lunched with us, having come on purpose to see me before his return to India. Besides ourselves & the children, Edith L., Marie., Lord Clanwilliam & Sir A. Bigge lunched. The Maharajah was, as usual very amiable. Took leave of him directly afterwards & his gentleman was presented. — Almost directly after I went upstairs, Thora came in & in a faltering voice said “He is gone”. I could not believed it, it seemed too dreadful & heart breaking, & this dear excellent, gallant Boy, beloved by all, such a good, as well as brave & capable officer, gone! To think that he had gone through the Indian campaign, Ashanti, (where our beloved Liko was taken) the Soudan, (going down in his ship) & now again in S. Africa had passed through endless hardship, & dangers, without being ill, or getting a scratch, — to fall a victim to this horrid fever, just on the eve of his return home, — oh! it is really too piteous. It brings back so vividly to my mind dear Liko’s loss, dying of African fever, away from his dear ones. I am miserable in thinking of poor dear Lenchen, who so worshipped this son, & poor Thora, so dear so courageous, trying to comfort me by saying so sweetly she knew “he was happy.” — All of us busy sending telegrams. Again & again the terrible thought of this fresh blow & irreparable loss, brought tears to my eyes. Poor dear Lenchen, poor Christian, who is abroad, & loved this son dearly! — A wet afternoon & felt too upset to go out.“