Royal History: A Quiet Funeral for the Empress Frederick

A portrait of the Empress Frederick when she was still
Crown Princess of Prussia. By Winterhalter,
Wikimedia Commons

Cronberg, August 6, 1901

After a long conference with Count Bulow regarding the funeral of the Dowager Empress Frederick, Emperor Wilhelm II left Homburg and proceeded to Schloss Friedrichshof, after which an official announcement has been made:

"On Thursday the royal family will attend a funeral service in the castle, at which the Bishop of Ripon, who was summoned by the Empress, will officiate. Only the immediate family will be present.

"On Saturday evening the coffin will be escorted from Friedrichshof to the Protestant church in Cronberg by a torchlight procession, followed by the Royal Family on foot.

"On Sunday a funeral service will be held in the presence of the family of the Empress, the household, and a few of her friends and other privileged persons. It is expected that King Edward VII will be present.

"The Royal Family will go to Potsdam in the mausoleum at Friedenskirche, Potsdam, will be held on Tuesday. As it was the Empress' wish that there should be no State ceremony, the service will be be attended by all the German royal personages. It will be as simple as possible.


The Dowager Empress' body was embalmed by Prof. Renvers, reports The New York Times. It lies on a bed of roses in her death chamber, overlooking the valley of the Main. Her body will remain where it is now until the coffin is ready. The roses surrounding her are actually the very blooms which she cultivated. Only members of the family and household are allowed to view her remains.

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