November 19, 1925
All the news services are reporting that Queen Alexandra, the widow of King Edward VII, suffered a major heart attack at noon at Sandringham. She is in "critical condition," and "holding her own, according to the official announcement.
Alexandra, who is the mother of King George V, has long been held in affection by the British public.
King George, Queen Mary, and other members of the family are now at the Queen's bedside. The Prince of Wales is in London and has telephoned the king, and will continue to carry out an engagement tomorrow, speaking at Guildhall, "though he may at the last moment be compelled to cancel this engagement." George V's second son, the Duke of York also remains in London but is keeping in close contact with Sandringham.Prince Henry is already at Sandringham.
The King and Queen are staying at York House on the Sandringham estate. They have been joined by Prince Henry and Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught. Queen Maud of Norway, who is Queen Alexandra's youngest daughter, is staying at Appleton House.
The Queen Mother has been living in "complete retirement" with her second daughter, Princess Victoria, at Sandringham. Her health had been failing for some time, but "no special alarm was felt regarding her health," despite her advanced age.
King George V had been shooting at a neighbor's estate when he received word of Alexandra's heart attack.
Members of the family are taking turns at the queen's bedside, including Queen Maud and Princess Victoria. It was also learned today that Alexandra's favorite sister, the Dowager Empress Marie of Russia, is "seriously ill" in Denmark, and "constantly asking to see her sister."
The news of Alexandra's illness "was non the less violent" as the Queen Mother "is very old." She is approaching her 81st birthday. She holds a "unique position in the hearts of her subjects."
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