“In all matters connected with India, the Queen Empress displayed an unvarying deep personal interest, and I am well aware of the feeling of loyalty and affection evinced by the millions of its people towards Her Throne and Person. This feeling was conspicuously shown during the last year of Her long and glorious reign by the noble and patriotic assistance offered by the Ruling Princes in the South African War, and by the gallant services rendered by the Native Army beyond the limits of their own Country.
“It was by Her wish and with Her sanction that I visited India and made Myself personally acquainted with the Ruling Chiefs, the people, and the cities of that ancient and famous Empire.
“I shall never forget the deep impressions which I then received, and I shall endeavour to follow the great example of the first Queen Empress to work for the general well-being of my Indian subjects of all ranks, and to merit, as She did, their unfailing loyalty and affection.
“Edward, R. et I.”
The King’s anxieties during the trying period which followed the death of his beloved mother were much increased by the state of health of his only surviving son. The Duke of Cornwall and York fell ill with German measles, and, to his lasting regret, it was absolutely impossible for him to attend the funeral of his venerated grandmother. His Royal Highness, however, thanks to the devoted nursing of his wife, made steady progress towards convalescence.
In the midst of his own bitter grief the King displayed all his customary consideration and desire to gratify others. Even before the funeral His Majesty found time to bestow the Victorian Order on some officers of the late Queen’s Guard at Osborne. To the Imperial and Royal personages who attended the late Queen’s funeral His Majesty showed significant marks of his gratitude. Queen Victoria had intended some time before her death to invest the German Crown Prince with the Order of the Garter with her own hands, and King Edward hastened to carry out his beloved mother’s design. The ceremony took place at Osborne, and after the investiture the King addressed his great-nephew in the following terms:—
“Sir—In conferring on your Imperial and Royal Highness the ancient and Most Noble Order of the Garter, which was founded by my ancestor many centuries ago, I invest you with the order of knighthood, not only as the heir to the Throne of a mighty empire, but also as a near relation. It was the wish of my beloved mother the Queen to bestow it upon you as a mark of her favour, and I am only carrying out her wishes, and am glad to do so to the son of my illustrious relation, the German Emperor, to whom I wish to express my sincere thanks for having come at a moment’s notice to this country and assisted in tending and watching over the Queen, and remaining with her until her last moments. I desire to express a hope that my action in conferring upon you this ancient Order may yet further cement and strengthen the good feeling which exists between the two great countries, and that we may go forward hand in hand with the high object of ensuring peace and promoting the advance of the civilisation of the world.”
The King also paid a high compliment to his nephew, Prince Henry of Prussia, which was thus announced in the London Gazette:—
“Admiralty, 5th February 1901.
“His Royal Highness Prince Albert William Henry of Prussia, K.G., G.C.B., Vice-Admiral in the Imperial German Navy, has been appointed Honorary Vice-Admiral in His Majesty’s Fleet.”