Chapter 48: Returning to Australia

October 24, 1900, the first day after Queen Victoria's death.

As soon as the queen stopped breathing yesterday afternoon, someone was assigned to collect Queen Victoria's body and transport it back to the British mainland for burial.

Although Queen Victoria always wanted to stay on White Island, as the monarch of the British Empire and the queen admired and revered by all British people, her body was ultimately to be buried in the royal cemetery on the British mainland.

The transportation of the body was very difficult; traveling from White Island to the British mainland took at least half a month, and the time could be even longer if resupplying along the way was taken into account.

To have Queen Victoria transported to the British mainland as soon as possible, Crown Prince Edward ordered the HMS Renown to be responsible for the operation.