Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 981349 Here we can see a stunning landscape watercolour by Queen Victoria, which depicts boats sailing near the coast. This watercolour is one of many practice paintings, which Victoria completed between 1846-1850 as a way to develop her artistic talents. Don’t forget to subscribe… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 43
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… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Ostrich Feather Cape
Recently I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy of History Press’s new book, The Aristocrat and The Able Seaman: The Countess of Rothes, Thomas Jones, and the tragedy of Titanic by Angela Young. Whilst everyone knows about my passion for researching Victorian royals, another of my historical interests is the sinking of… Continue reading Book Review: ‘The Aristocrat and The Able Seaman: The Countess of Rothes, Thomas Jones, and the tragedy of Titanic’ by Angela Young
In John Phillips’s 1860 painting of the wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal, and Prince Friedrich of Prussia in January 1859, Queen Victoria can be seen wearing a dress ‘of mauve moire antique & silver,’ trimmed with Honiton lace, which also decorated the velvet train. In addition to this, Victoria wore her ‘Regal Diadem & the… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s purple and silver dresses
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980029.cq Dated 14th August 1855, this delightful watercolour by Queen Victoria shows a stunning sunset over the Solent. At 5pm Queen Victoria had left Osborne with her eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, and the female members of her household, to embark on HMS Fairy. The… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 42
On 4th April 1900 Queen Victoria arrived in Ireland for the final time in her 63 year reign. During her lifetime Victoria only visited Ireland four times, with her final visit being perhaps the most significant. Queen Victoria in her carriage during her trip to Ireland In October 1899 the second Boer War had begun… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s shamrock parasol and bonnet
On 29th March 1871 London witnessed the opening of one of its most iconic buildings, the Royal Albert Hall, in a grand ceremony attended by the highest members of society. Located in South Kensington, the Hall is one of several buildings to have been built in the wake of the 1851 Great Exhibition. Headed by… Continue reading ‘An impressive spectacle of its kind’: Queen Victoria opens the Royal Albert Hall
On 27th March 1883 Queen Victoria’s Highland servant (and potential lover), John Brown, passed away at Windsor Castle. According to the Queen’s journals, Brown had fallen ill erysipelas on 25th March, however, he had been suffering for some time beforehand but still remained by her side. The following day his face had become swollen, leading… Continue reading ‘It brought home painfully to me, the break with the past’: The death of Queen Victoria’s highland servant, John Brown
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.gc This sketchbook Saturday we’re looking at this beautiful watercolour, pencil and ink sketch of Princess Alice. Dated 17th June 1860, Queen Victoria’s illustration shows her daughter sat reading, whilst wearing a grey and black striped mourning dress. Don’t forget to subscribe to my… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 41
© Historic Royal Palaces This ‘Royal Fashion Friday’ we’re looking at this stunning dress that was worn by Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. Dating from around 1911-1912, the dress was worn by the Queen to attend one of the most iconic royal events, Ascot. While the light colours and floral pattern capture the… Continue reading Queen Alexandra’s Ascot dress
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.hd This beautiful watercolour sketch by Queen Victoria shows her grandson, Prince Albert Victor of Wales sitting on the floor at Osborne in January 1865. The Prince had visited Osborne with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, for the confirmation of his… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 40
Children wearing sailor’s suits is commonly associated with the upper classes of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, but have you ever wondered where this trend began? Well, just like the tradition of the white wedding dress, we have Queen Victoria to thank. Sailor suit worn by King Edward VIII, 1902© Historic Royal Palaces King Edward… Continue reading Influencing childrenswear: How Queen Victoria popularised the sailor’s suit