Queen Victoria to Abdicate.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 18, 6 November 1879, Page 4

Queen Victoria to Abdicate.

The London correspondent of the “ Dundee Advertiser ” in a recent letter, alluding to the abdication of Queen Victoria, says:—“l have not hithei'to alluded to these reports, but they have become so persistent that it would bo useless longer to ignore their existence. It is said that for some time pist Her Majesty’s health has not been in a very satisfactory srate, Tim (hath of the Duchess of llos‘e g.ivn Ivr a shock, from which she hr; )or »<v wwd, ami the celebration of the mania-go of the Duke of Connaught exercised a depressing influence on her In a’th. The journey to Italy is not a mere lid ty trip. Sir W. Jeauer considered th it a change of scene, and an almost entire absence from official duty of any kind, wore necessary for the Queen, and that is the reason she has buried herself on the secluded shores of an Italian lake. It is no doubt in consequence of the somewhat gloomy statements regarding Her Majesty’s health which are passing in society, that the other reports connected with the succession to the throne are also current. It is said that, unless a considerable change in Her Majesty’s health takes place, she will no longer be able to discharge the functions belonging to the Sovereign of the old country, and rumour points to the possibility of an abdietkm. It is an undoubted fact, that since the departure of the Queen for Italy the Prime Minister has several limes seen the Prince of Wales. On Tuesday he bad an interview with His Royal Highness of more than an hour’s duration, and the Prince would seem to be since io some extent discharging the duties of the Queen with regard to public affairs during her absence in Italy. In a matter where there is necessarily a good deal of speculation, it would be idle to make definite statements, but there are those who think that a somewhat startling surprise is in store for Parliament before the present session closes.”