“La Route du Prince Impérial” was inaugurated on 1 June 1996 to commemorate the time Louis-Napoleon, only son of Napoléon III and his wife the Empress Eugenie, spent in South Africa before his untimely death at the hands of Zulu warriors on 1 June 1879. The route follows the footsteps of the pilgrimage made by the Prince’s grieving mother in 1880, who held a night vigil at the spot where Louis-Napoleon was killed. A monument has since been erected at this site.
Among the ‘Imperial’ events on the programme (full programme here):
Monday 28 May, 10h00: Msunduzi Museum, Pietermaritzburg
Guided Visit of the Prince Imperial exhibition
Wednesday 30 May 13h00: Project Gateway, Pietermaritzburg
Annual Prince Imperial lunchtime concert
Friday 1 June 18h00: Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
A concert to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the “Route du Prince Impérial”, featuring Pietermaritzburg musicians.
Saturday 2 June 09h30: The Allard House Chapel
18th annual memorial mass for the Prince Imperial, and also this year for Jean-Claude Lachnitt, a French specialist on the Prince Imperial.
Sunday 3 June 11h00: Imperial Monument, Uqweqwe
Commemoration at the tomb of the Prince Imperial, laying of wreaths (preceeded by a visit to the primary school at 10h00)
Full programme here (pdf)