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13. The Last Friend Queen Victoria Wanted To See Was Her Dog
For months before her death at the age of 81 — incredibly old age for someone of that period — Queen Victoria’s health deteriorated until she was thin and frail. She became tired quickly and often experienced confusion that may have been attributable to dementia. She began suffering strokes in January of 1901 and became bedridden. Eventually, she was under the continual supervision of her physician, Dr. James Reid, and he was the one who carried out her final requests. After he soon realized that she was dying, the doctor summoned her family to her bedside.
However, the queen’s last request for whom she wanted to see was not a member of her family, at least not a human one. Perhaps she was confused due to the multiple strokes she had suffered, or maybe she was just tired of everyone telling her what to do during her last days. Her four-legged, furry friend, her favorite pet, a Pomeranian dog named Turi, was the last to see her alive. He was laid upon her bed shortly before she passed away.
Her family was known to be jealous when her affections were for those outside of their own members, particularly regarding her affair with John Brown. How did they feel about her wanting to see the dog before she died? As far as we know, they were mum on the issue.