As we mourn our own dear Queen Elizabeth II, we found this interesting piece about how the French mark the passing of their monarchs. The piece was published in 1837, just after Queen Victoria’s accession, so such things were of interest to the public. Presumably, if the clock exists today (somewhere?) it still marks the moment of death of Louis XVIII.
“In the courtyard of the Palace of Versailles is a clock with one hand, called l’Horologe de la mort du Roi. It contains no works, but consists merely of a face,in the form of a sun, surrounded by rays. On the death of a King the hand is set to the moment of his demise, and remains unaltered till his successor has rejoined him in the frave. The custom originated under Louis the Thurteenth, and continued till the Revolution. It was revived on the death of Louis the Eighteenth, and the hand still continues fixed on the precise moment of that Monarch’s death.”
The Stamford Mercury, 8th December, 1837.