2-888-530 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Funeral of the Queen of the Belgians - the Interment in the Church a Laeken, 1850. 'The civic guard and the army divided the honorary duty of the day...A double row of civic guards were ranged from the door...to the catafalque whereon the body lay in state...In the cross aisles were a great number of ladies in deep mourning. The affliction...was very evident; tears were observed on every face. In compliance with the request of the King, the public were admitted into a part of the church...The Cardinal addressed a few words to his Majesty...but the King could only reply by his sobs...The requiem was sung by fifty choristers, under the direction of M. Govaerts. Four priests chanted prayers around the coffin...all around hundreds of tapers shed their light upon the mournful scene'. Queen Louise died of tuberculosis aged 38, on 11 October 1850. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.