Postings here are the last known photographs or videos of a person. Also, the last picture taken by a person just before their death is acceptable. Pictures of people only please! You may additional context in comments.
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Prince Waldemar was the youngest son, and favourite child, of Crown Prince Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia (later Emperor Frederick III) and his wife, Princess Royal (later Empress) Victoria of the United Kingdom, a eldest child of Queen Victoria.
He was, by all accounts a energetic and happy child, who loved animals (especially his many pets) and his family, which he loved to prank.
Sadly, Waldemar died on the 27th March 1879, shortly after his 11 birthday, having contracted diphtheria, a bacterial infection of the airway.
I often wonder how people emotionally managed the high mortality rate in children for most of human history. My mom told me that her grandmother’s brother died of diphtheria very young, around five, just at the time the vaccine was becoming available (turn of the last century). She said her great-grandmother couldn’t even speak his name without breaking into sobs, even as an elderly woman so many years later. Just heartbreaking.
I think it was common at the time for babies to be named after their deceased elder siblings.
My maternal grandfather was named after his older brother who had died as an infant– this would have been in the early 1920s.
Man life was rough before we could treat and vaccinate for the things that killed so many kiddos :(
The first inoculation for smallpox was literally snorting dried scabs and people lined up for the privilege.
I mean, when they’re rolling body carts through the streets, screaming “Bring out your dead!” snorting some scabs seems like a kinder alternative….
Meanwhile, antivaxxers want us to go back to that.
There have been measles outbreaks across the USA recently. It’s scary to think that a horrific disease that we had almost brought to extinction via vaccinations is on the rise to wreak havoc again because of antivaxxers.
Lololol
I have always said "thank GOD for modern medicine" cuz I myself, Type one diabetic, would be dead by now.
Me, I’d be dead of an asthma attack at age 14. My daughter would’ve died shortly after birth due to prematurity.
I’m not normally one to call Victorian photos creepy (Hell, I collect memento mori and hidden mother tintypes)– but YEESH. The oldest girl looks like she’s about to set fire to me with her mind.
It's giving me Vigo the Carpathian vibes
Nailed it and now I should go watch Ghostbusters 2...
She does
Even Samara told her to lighten up a little.
They had to stay super still to get a clear photograph, so most people look like this in pictures from that era.
I was thinking the same thing about ALL OF THEM. They all look like serial killers in those "empty" eyes.
They look like the British ones of the last century too, because they're all related. Even Prince William got some of it because the genes are so strong.
Sad, he was a handsome young man. It's crazy that young people died of things so preventable now
Their mother was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria
Yeah the European royals are all related
It looks like they all have some sort of vitamin deficiency
In those days, everyone probably did
I’m not sure if the oldest girl has a lazy eye or if it’s just from the photo being long exposure but one eye is looking up and the other one is looking straight. She also looks like she’s going to commit a series of murders.
I may just be trippin but it looks like the girl on the ground’s eyes are kinda doing the same thing
Looks like the antagonist in a horror movie ngl
Didn't it take so long to take photos? Maybe people are just mad by the time everything was set up and have to wait.
By the late 1870s it wasn’t that much of a wait– around 20 seconds. When we think of long exposure times we’re thinking of the really early years (1820s to early 1840s) with daguerreotypes. Once people caught on how the basic process worked, the technology moved pretty quickly. I actually know some hobbyists who do traditional photography like this (I live in a town big on history).
People by the late 1870s still looked “posed”, but having your photograph taken was seen as akin to having a portrait done, so still an expensive and rare occasion and you were expected to look poised and dignified.
They certainly didn't look happy to be there, but not smiling was a thing in photos of the day, wasn't it?
Since getting your photo taken at this time was generally seen as a formal occasion (like getting your portrait painted), keeping a neutral/dignified expression was a holdback from that tradition.
Not to say everyone held to that tradition… https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-portrait-of-three-smiling-adult-women-with-large-crackers-in-mouths-89005918.html
That's really interesting, thanks. Makes perfect sense.
Understood. However, those are serial killer facial expression and eyes, not dignified.
I'm wondering WTF is going on with the right side of his head?
It looks to me like an awkward curl of hair
Children of the corn vibes
how did he die?
Diphtheria, basically a bacterial throat infection that can lead to breathing problems.
My great aunt had diphtheria at the age of three. She was saved by the local gp performing a tracheotomy on the kitchen table.
jeeez well done and what a picture!
Omg, she had someone watching over her. Glad she’s okay!
She lived to be 99
Ugh, how awful. My great-grandfather was a country doctor in Kentucky and apparently the only cases that really got to him were children with diphtheria.
That sister in the middle did it
I read about him when I was in college. I believe he died from Diphtheria.
Must be a horrid way to go
My mom cut those girls’ bangs. 😄
hmmmmm
Those dresses look starched/stiff, but how do you get those layers? Love the shoes on the big sis, could be worn today. fashion side of reddit?
Crinolines and petticoats– essentially layers of underskirts. The girls are a little too young for bustles (and true bustles weren’t in fashion yet in the 1870s). I’m a hobbyist historical reenactor that specializes in the Gilded/Edwardian ages so I actually have a few myself!
And yes, she has awesome boots. If you’re interested in modern historical footwear, check out https://www.americanduchess.com– it’s basically THE site for accurate reproduction footwear from all different eras!
I second AD, plus Memery UK for Edwardian to 1940s shoes! I prefer the soles on Memery’s shoes to AD.
Ooh, I’ll look them up! Shoes are ALWAYS the hardest part of a costume to get right, and the most expensive…a few years back I worked for an 18th century living history site and got a pair of handcrafted leather buckle shoes in my huge size…FOR FREE. I don’t even specialize in that era but I am never giving those up!
That is AWESOME. I have large feet (size 43 EU/11.5-12 women’s US) and I’m thrilled that both AD and Memery offer shoes in my size. I work at a library and get a lot of compliments from older patrons on my shoes!
thank you!!
His hand is big
Oh my god you’re right, that’s very strange to look at. Genetics?
Are the little girls from bioshock inspired from this picture ?
His pose seems so modern.
This is where some Berlin haircuts originate from, wowzers. Straight out of Bergmannkiez
Why do the children look so brooding!
If Waldemar had become King of Prussia and not his brother, it makes one wonder how that would have changed the course of history
Interesting thought actually
They were aliens.
?