3-052-555 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Departure of the Empress Eugénie for Zululand, 1880. 'The Empress Eugenie took her departure on Thursday, the 25th March, on her melancholy mission to Zululand for the purpose of visiting the spot on which the young Prince Imperial met his untimely death on June 1 last year. [At] Southampton...a special steam-tender was lying to convey the Empress and suite to the Union Company's steam-ship German, commanded by Captain C. D. Coxwell...Our Illustration shows Captain Coxwell receiving the Empress on board his ship, which left her moorings in the river about three o'clock. The Empress travels incognita as the Comtesse de Pierrefonds and is accompanied by the Hon. Mrs. Ronald Campbell, Sir Evelyn and Lady Wood, the Marquis of Bassano (son of the Due de Bassano), Dr. Scott, Lieutenant Slade, three men servants, and two female servants...[After arriving at Durban] the Empress...will travel by land to the valley of Ityotyazi, where her son fell. For this part of the journey about a fortnight will be needed. Her movements will be so arranged that her Majesty shall reach the donga where the Prince Imperial fell on June 1, as near as possible to the hour at which the disaster occurred'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.