Queen Victoria’s Privy Council dress

Earlier today, 20th June 2024, I had the privilege of seeing Queen Victoria’s Privy Council Dress on display at Kensington Palace, exactly 187 years after it was worn by Queen Victoria on her first day as Monarch. Join me as I talk about this beautiful gown.

At 6am on 20th June 1837, the Duchess of Kent woke her daughter, Princess Alexandrina Victoria, to tell her “that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here, and wished to see me [Victoria]”. From there, she “got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown), and alone, and saw them.” It was here that she heard the news that her “poor Uncle, the King [William IV], was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes p.2 this morning, and consequently that I am Queen.”

At 11am, the eighteen-year-old Queen mournfully entered the Red Saloon at Kensington Palace, “quite alone” – ready to hold her first Privy Council meeting. The scene itself was immortalised by artist, Sir David Wilkie, who took it upon himself to make one major alteration from the reality.

Following protocol, Queen Victoria was wearing a black mourning dress and removable white collar; however, in the portrait, Wilkie has clearly depicted the Queen as wearing an angelic, white gown.

There are two main reasons why this change was made, the first (and perhaps most obvious) is that it made the Queen stand out amongst the black suits of her Privy Councillors. The second reason was to signify Victorias innocence and, therefore, create a sense of irony that an eighteen-year-old girl now outranked a room full of experienced male politicians and dignitaries.

While the change certainly has a powerful impact today, Queen Victoria disapproved of Wilkies decision and later described the painting as “the worst painting I have ever seen”.

Fortunately the dress still survives today in the Royal Collection, however the black dye has chemically reacted with the fabric, causing it to fade into a beautiful mottled brown. The dress is currently on display in the Red Saloon at Kensington Palace, presumably just for the 2024 summer season.

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©️Queen.Victoria.Roses 2024

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