3-074-967 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Royal Palace of Laeken, Brussels, destroyed by fire, 1890. 'On New Year's Day...a fire, accidentally caused, broke out in the Royal Palace...which was entirely destroyed. King Leopold II. and his Queen, were in their town Royal palace...her Majesty left at once for Laeken, where she arrived only to witness the complete destruction of the favourite residence of the Royal family, and to assure herself of the safety of her daughter, who is seventeen years of age. This young lady, Princess Clementine, was taking lunch with her governess, Mdlle. Drancourt, at the time of the fire, and succeeded in escaping; but Mdlle. Drancourt returned to her apartments to secure some articles of value, and was suffocated in the attempt. The only persons in the castle when the alarm was raised were the Princess, her governess, and a lady attendant...The Queen is deeply grieved at the death of...[the] governess, as well as at the destruction of all the souvenirs of her son, who died at the age of twelve, and those of her other children, which she had carefully preserved...The rooms occupied by Princess Clementine and her governess were on the first floor of the right wing...We are indebted to a correspondent, Mr. F. Watkins, for the Sketches we have engraved'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.