The materials have been found, not only in many works of history, biography, memoir and reminiscence, both German and English, some of which are little known, especially to English readers, but also in the recollection of persons who were honoured with the Empress's friendship. The aim of the writer has been, while avoiding such indiscriminate laudation as really degrades the subject of it, to draw a full-length portrait of one of the noblest and most attractive characters in the long history of the Royal Houses of Europe. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PEDIGREE SHOWING THE FAMILY CONNECTIONS OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS FREDERICK xv CHAP. I CHILDHOOD AND GIRLHOOD 1 II BETROTHAL 23 III OPINION IN BOTH COUNTRIES 36 IV MARRIAGE 58 V EARLY MARRIED LIFE 71 VI BIRTH OF PRINCE WILLIAM 100 VII ADVICE FROM ENGLAND 115 VIII DEATH OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA 133 IX FIRST RELATIONS WITH BISMARCK 162 X THE WAR OF THE DUCHIES 177 XI HOME LIFE AND RELIGION 198 XII THE AUSTRIAN WAR: WORK IN THE HOSPITALS 210 XIII THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR 227 XIV PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACTIVITIES 245 XV THE CROWN PRINCE'S REGENCY 263 XVI SILVER WEDDING: THE CROWN PRINCE'S ILLNESS 279 XVII THE HUNDRED DAYS' REIGN 299 XVIII EARLY WIDOWHOOD: FALL OF BISMARCK 315 XIX THE PLANNING OF FRIEDRICHSHOF: VISIT TO PARIS 329 XX LIFE AT FRIEDRICHSHOF 340 XXI LAST YEARS 354 ILLUSTRATIONS The Empress Frederick (Photogravure) _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal 18 The Princess Royal, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa 54 Her Royal Highness Victoria, Princess Royal 98 His Royal Highness, Prince Frederick William of Prussia 138 Her Royal Highness, Princess Frederick William of Prussia 180