Thousands queue for Victoria tribute

by Steve Cunningham< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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THOUSANDS of people braved the biting wind and rain to see Queen Victoria's final resting place, 100 years after her burial.

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Lengthy queues gathered at the royal mausoleum at Frogmore, in the grounds of Windsor Home Park on 4th February.

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��Press Association

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Albert died in December, 1861. It was a shock from which his devoted wife never recovered in the remaining 40 years of her life. Yet within four days of his death from typhoid fever, the Queen had chosen the mausoleum site. It was to be near her mother's resting place in the gardens of Frogmore House, where she had lived.

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The mausoleum was designed by Ludwig Gruner, assisted by A J Humbert. The exterior was inspired by Italian Romanesque buildings, the interior in the style of Albert's favourite painter, the Renaissance genius Raphael.

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Work started in March, 1862. The dome was made by October and the central part of the structure was consecrated in December, although the decoration was not finished until August, 1871.

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The tomb, two marble effigies recumbent on grey granite chest, was designed by Baron Carlo Marochetti. The queen's effigy was made at the same time, but was not put in the mausoleum until after her funeral. The sarcophagus is made from a single flawless block of Aberdeen granite.

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Only Victoria and Albert are interred there, but the mausoleum contains other memorials. Among those is a charming monument to Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse (1843-1878), Victoria's second daughter, who died of diphtheria shortly after her youngest daughter May (1874-1878).

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In the centre of the chapel is a monument to Edward, Duke of Kent, Victoria's father. He died in 1820 and is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

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One of the strangest sculptures is that of the Queen and consort in Anglo-Saxon costume. Albert is speaking. Victoria looks up at him in adoration.

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The mausoleum is normally open once a year, on the Wednesday nearest 24 May, Victoria's birthday.

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Behind the mausoleum is the royal burial ground that is never open to the public. Among those interred there are three of Victoria's children, Princess Helena; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught; and Princess Louise. It is also the final resting place of Prince William of Gloucester (1941-1972); the Duke of Windsor (1894-1972), who reigned as Edward VIII before abdication; and the Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986).