Preserved in the collection of Carisbrooke Castle Museum on the Isle of Wight, this beautiful evening cape is believed to have been worn by Queen Victoria at her island home, Osborne House, in the 1870s. The main body of the cape is made out of cream tin-weighted silk, trimmed with black silk and decorated with black lace and ostrich feathers. Whilst I can’t find any photographs of Victoria wearing this particular garment, there are some images of her wearing pieces in similar designs.
NETCC: 1985.3309
Following tradition that had taken place during the Queen’s lifetime, following Victoria’s death in January 1901 many pieces of her clothing were given away to people that had served her in some way. This particular piece was given away by Miss Meken, Housekeeper at Osborne House, who gave it to a Mrs Wilkins, wife of the director of the Red Funnel Steamers (a company which still operates between Southampton and East Cowes today!). Years later, her daughter gave this historic piece to a fellow islander, Mrs Youldon, who lived at Frognal Cottage in the village of Niton (now operating as holiday accommodation). Whilst the cape passed through different owners, Mrs Youldon was perhaps the most poignant as she is the only one that is said to have seen Queen Victoria wearing it.
© National Portrait Gallery, London
NPG x35274
In 1962 Victoria’s ostrich feather cape was donated to Carisbrooke Castle Museum, which quite fittingly had been founded by Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice in the 1890s. Due to the nature of the tin-weighted silk, time has led the fabric to become fragile and easily disintegrate when disturbed. Unfortunately this means that the cape is no longer able to be go on display. Nonetheless, the survival of this stunning garment continues to give us a wonderful insight into Queen Victoria’s wardrobe.
© Queen.Victoria.Roses 2026
Want to be notified about new content? Subscribe to my website to receive email updates!
This article is the intellectual property of Queen.Victoria.Roses and should not be COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances unless permission is given by the author
