Queen Victoria meets with Bismarck

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 April 26, 1888

Queen Victoria visited the mausoleum in Berlin, where she  "spent some time in prayer at the tomb" of Emperor Wilhelm, according to the New York Times.  Victoria, accompanied by the German Empress and her daughters,  placed a wreath upon the late Emperor's coffin.  After a luncheon at the palace, the Queen and the Empress left at 3. p.m. by carriage and were driven to the drill ground and "inspected the Life Infantry Guards.  Princesses Viktoria and Margarete "accompanied them on horseback."

Later this afternoon, the Queen, accompanied by the Empress, bid farewell to the Dowager Empress Auguste and the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden.  The Grand Duchess is the sister of the German Emperor.

It is also being reported that Queen Victoria had a "friendly conversation with Prince Bismarck last evening," and it is understood that the "interview will have satisfactory remarks. The Emperor, who was also at the meeting, returned to the Queen his father's Order of the Bath and the Order of the Garter.  At a reception, which had followed a banquet, Queen Victoria "freely conversed in the purest German," and devoted "particular attention to Prince Bismarck, who shook hands heartily with Her Majesty before retiring."

The Crown Prince introduced the Queen to the Burgomeister and members of the Charlottenburg Municipal Council, and Victoria, "expressed her cordial thanks for the kindly welcome" she had received during her visit.  At every public appearance, crowds gathered to cheer the British monarch, the mother of the German Empress.