If you are someone who watches for special dates and celebrations during the year, you will undoubtedly have noted the 200-year anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria being recognized in 2019. While there will be special events in various locations throughout the world, the majority of these festivities will take place in Great Britain.
One particular event in the late Queen’s life that stands out was the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. While looking up some local historical information near this date, we came across the announcement of Albert’s death and were reminded of the time factor related to the transfer of this and other news around the world at that time.
In the Feb. 20, 1862 issue of the British Columbian newspaper in New Westminster, we find an official announcement from the Colonial Secretary’s office in Victoria dated Feb. 17, noting the death and publishing the dispatch from London, England.
“The subjoined dispatch announcing to this government the melancholy intelligence of the death of His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort, in hereby published.”
The formal announcement from Downing Street, London, read as follows: “Sir: It is with deepest regret that I have to communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the death of His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort. His Royal Highness expired at Windsor Castle, on the night of the 14th instant, at 10 minutes before 11 o’clock, to the inexpressible grief of Her Majesty, the Royal Family, and the Nation. I have the honour etc. Newcastle.”
The special point to note regarding this dispatch from Britain is that it was dated December 16, 1861.
Within a week a special meeting of City Council had been called to formally recognize the receipt of the notice of the death of the Prince Consort and to respond appropriately on behalf of the citizens of the community. After it had been moved and seconded, it was resolved “that it is with deep and unfeigned sorrow the Municipal Council and the inhabitants of New Westminster have received the melancholy announcement of the death of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort.”
It then continued, “In His Royal Highness, whose melancholy demise we now deplore, Her Gracious Majesty has lost a sagacious Councillor, and the nation and the world a generous and discriminating patron of the arts and sciences, a just and beneficent philanthropist – joined to private virtues, that distinguished him by a bright lustre, higher than even the high position that Divine Providence had assigned him.”
City Council, after hearing another portion of the statement directed to Her Majesty on this solemn occasion voted acceptance of the piece and then further approved “that an address embodying the last resolution be forwarded through His Excellency to Her Majesty.” They then moved “that each member of Council wear crepe on the left arm for a period of twenty days as a badge of mourning…”
