In December 1911, Louise, Duchess of Fife – eldest daughter of King Edward VII – travelled to Egypt with her husband, Prince Alexander and their daughters, Princess Alexandra and Princess Maud. During the journey, their boat, SS Delhi, was hit by a storm and ran aground just off the coast of Morocco. Fortunately the family managed to escape into a lifeboat, although this is thought to have also sank.
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
RCIN 2913232
Having somehow managed to survive the sea, the family of four embarked on a long walk in the rain to cape spartel lighthouse, where they received help. Unfortunately when they eventually arrived in Egypt, Alexander had fallen seriously ill with pleurisy and passed away on 29th January 1912. Louise was naturally devastated by her husband’s passing and – like her grandmother, Queen Victoria, after the death of Prince Albert – began living a reclusive lifestyle at her Scottish home, Mar Lodge. The princess remained here until October 1929, when she suffered a gastric haemorrhage. She was then moved down to London in Portman Square to recover. As time passed, Louise developed heart disease and passed away in her sleep on 4th January 1931, with her daughters by her side. Her body was initially placed in the Royal Vault at St George’s Chapel in Windsor before being moved to her Private Chapel at Mar Lodge.
©️Queen.Victoria.Roses 2025
Want to be notified about new content? Subscribe to my website to receive email updates!
This article is the intellectual property of Queen.Victoria.Roses and should not be COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances unless permission is given by the author
