Tomb of Louis Napoleon, the Prince Imperial

[SteveMc1958]

I was lucky enough last weekend to visit St. Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, Hampshire, which is the last resting place of Emperor Napeoleon III of France and of Louis Napoleon, his son, last of the Bonaparte lineage and, of course, victim of the Zulu War of 1879. St Michael's was founded by the Empress Eugenie as an appropriate resting for her husband and only child. Her body was also placed there after her death.

Below are some photos I hope members will enjoy of the dome of the Abbey itself (deliberately remniscent of that of Les Invalides in Paris where lies Louis' great-uncle, whose sword he carried in Natal and who he was want to refer to as "our ancestor"!).

The guide to the Abbey notes nicely that the crypt (where bodies of The Emperor, Empress and Prince rest) "is a place of great irony...it is ironic that the last head of state with the name of Bonaparte should find his final rest on English soil; ironinc that Louis, the Prince Imperial - the last Napoleon - should have died a British soldier and lie buried in British military uniform" (he apparently wears the uniform of a subaltern in the Royal Artillery).

Steve

[Isandlwana]

His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon Eugene Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte
Prince Imperial of France, 1856-1879, photographed in April/May 1879 Natal, South Africa

Isandlwana

[QSVC]

That is interesting, thankyou for sharing,

Robert

[Sepoy]

Great photographs - it is a while since I visited the St Michael's Abbey and saw the tombs of the last Napoleon's, although I pass by on a regular basis on the way to my local pub. My only complaint - the Abbey is at Farnborough, Hampshire and not the Farnborough in Kent.

Cheers

Sepoy

[Mark]

Very interesting photos chaps, thanks for sharing!

Mark

[Lord James]

As stated by sepoy, the Imperial tombs are in the Crypt of St. Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, Hampshire. Napoleon III's tomb was originally in St. Mary's Church at Chislehurst in Kent, but Empress Eugene acquired land at Farnborough, Hampshire to build the Abbey and Monastery. In 2008 I was privileged to take the photographs of the celebrations of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Napoleon III and I have a picture of the current Prince Imperial paying homage at the tomb of the former Prince Imperial.
http://www.tagged.com/photo_view.html?photoId=149755070

[Jonathan]

Lord James,
The link does not work for me.

Jonathan

[Mark]

Lord James,
The link does not work for me.

Jonathan

Nor me Lord James, do you have an updated link to the photo you could post?

Mark