DEATH OF A QUEEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 150, 7 April 1930, Page 5

DEATH OF A QUEEN.

VICTORIA OF SWEDEN. “ END OF LONG ILLNESS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) ROME, April 4. Queen Victoria, of Sweden, is dead, aged 68. It was a poignant fact that Queen Victoria was unable to recognise King Gustav of Sweden, who arrived at the bedside while she was dying. King Gustav reached Naples on Thursday when, in consequence of reassuring reports as to the Queen’s condition, he visited a theatre. He immediately received the news that the Queen was worse and he continued his journey to arrive in time to see her before death.

Queen Victoria had suffered from lung trouble for many years and finally her heart weakened. The King and Queen of Italy placed flowers on her death-bed.

Queen Victoria’s body will be entrained for Swinemunde, thence a warship will take it to Stockholm. The funeral will probably take place on April 12.

MOURNING AT STOCKHOLM. (United Press Association—Copyright.) STOCKHOLM, April 5. The news of Queen Victoria’s death was received when the theatres were opening. Performances were abandoned and all dancing and other amusements ceased. Poor health caused the Queen to spend most-' of her later years abroad. Queen Victoria of Sweden was born at Karlsruhe, Germany, on August 7, 1862. Her father was the Grand Duke Friedrich I. of Baden, who died in 1907. and her mother Princess Louise of Prussia, daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Her only brother is the former Grand Duke Friedrich 11. of Uaden. On September 20, 1881, she was married at Karlsruhe to the then Crown Prince of Sweden, now King Gustav V. It was on December 8, 1907, that she ascended the Swedish throne with him. There are two sons of the marriage, the Crown Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden, and Prince William of Sweden. The Queen jj r as much attached to her native Baden, and until the revolution in 1918 was a visitor to Karlsruhe. In 1923 she lost her mother. Of recent years her health has been bad and she has spent much time in the south of Europe. After several months at Capri and Heidelburg she returned to Sweden at the end of June, 1926, but had to remain in bed for practically the whole journey, and on her arrival at Solliden Castle she was reported to be suffering from heart attacks. Although her health subsequently improved,, it still gave rise to anxiety, and in September, as the doctors considered it impossible for her to remain in Sweden for the winter, she was advised to leave immediately for some health resort in the south of Europe.