A few years before, the Emperor had presented to him the Sachsen Wald, a large portion of the royal domains in the Duchy of Lauenburg.

He now purchased the neighbouring estate of Friedrichsruh, so that he had a third country residence to which he could retire.

It had a double advantage: its proximity to the great forest in which he loved to wander, and also to a railway, making it little more than an hour distant from Berlin.

He was able, therefore, at Friedrichsruh, to continue his management of affairs more easily than he could at Varzin..