Who was Queen Alexandra?
Both the original solarium at Mill Bay and the present Queen Alexandra Children’s Hospital at Finnerty Cove were named after Queen Alexandra (1844 – 1925) Ð a Danish monarch who married a British prince. She was known for her benevolence and devotion to charitable causes. Queen Alexandra founded her own branch of “The National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in Time of War,” arranged for thousands of the very poor to enjoy a hot dinner at Queen Victoria’s Jubilee celebration, and devoted considerable time to numerous charities. Although Queen Alexandra became ill with rheumatic fever in 1867, which left her with a walking limp and a worsened hearing impairment, her compassion was not hindered but increased. As a result of a construction contribution from the royal family, the solarium at Mill Bay was named in honour of Alexandra, a monarch who truly showed her desire to help those in need.
