In early 1848, Europe was in upheaval with the forced abdication of the Hapsburg Emperor in Sicily, the February Revolution in France, the disruption of trade to England and the resulting severe unemployment and threatened revolt, the rise of Chartists in connection with the Irish rebellion, and the German Revolution, which led to the fall of Berlin. Thus, Princess Louise, at the young age of eight days old, was whisked away from London with her family to seek refuge at their holiday home, the Osborne House on the Isle of Wight (Wake 15–18).
