Trivia Advent Calendar

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kudos, Laurie, it's indeed Queen Victoria in mourning:
   
She was Mary's mourning role model, and her letter of condolence a cherished treasure:

April 29, 1865

Dear Madam,

Though a Stranger to you I cannot remain silent when so terrible a calamity has fallen upon you & your Country & must personally express my deep & heartfelt sympathy with you under the shocking circumstances of your present dreadful misfortune —

No one can better appreciate than I can, who am myself utterly broken-hearted by the loss of my own beloved Husband, who was the Light of my Life, — my Stay — my all, — what your sufferings must be; and I earnestly pray that you may be supported by Him to whom Alone the sorely stricken can look for comfort, in this hour of heavy affliction.

With the renewed Expression of true sympathy, I remain,

dear Madam,

Your Sincere friend

Victoria Rg

Now - whom was she mourning? Prince consort Franz Albrecht August Karl Emanuel of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, born on Aug.26, 1819in Schloss Rosenau (Rosenau Palace), formerly in Saxe-Coburg, now in Bavaria, Germany:
       
...who had died on Dec.14, 1861 at the early age of 42, plunging the Queen into a deep mourning that lasted for the rest of her life.

Prince Albert married his first cousin, Queen Victoria, at the age of 20. Together they would have nine children. Over the time, he adopted many public causes, such as educational reform and a worldwide abolition of slavery. Albert aided in the development of Britain's constitutional monarchy by persuading his wife to show less partisanship in her dealings with Parliament—although he actively disagreed with the interventionist foreign policy pursued during Lord Palmerston's tenure as Foreign Secretary.