Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
The daughter of a Welsh Baronet, Mary Elizabeth Lucy had very little in common with Queen Victoria on the outside but there is one very important detail which they both have in common… they wanted their stories to be remembered. In the 1880s Mary Elizabeth Lucy, Mistress of Charlecote, set about recounting her life as… Continue reading Telling a story: The Memoirs of Mary Elizabeth Lucy
Queen Victoria dressed for the Thanksgiving Service for the Prince of Wales's recovery, February 1872 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2105785 A life-long fan of Queen Victoria, Mary Elizabeth Lucy got one final glimpse of the monarch in February 1872, when she witnessed the Thanksgiving parade that was held… Continue reading Mary Elizabeth Lucy’s final glimpse of Queen Victoria
From the moment she ascended the throne at the age of eighteen, Queen Victoria became the most famous person in the world. Like anyone in the public eye, this meant that everything she did was closely watched, publicised and replicated by her people. This was particularly true when it came to her wedding in February… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s influence on the brides of Charlecote
The Charlecote Buffet, image taken in May 2026 by Shannon McInulty After Carry’s coming out in 1850 there appears to be no other instances of Mary Elizabeth Lucy coming into personal contact with Queen Victoria. However, the monarch continued to remain a prominent figure within the Lucy family. In June 1858, Queen Victoria and Prince… Continue reading Queen Victoria and the Charlecote Buffet
In June 1850, Mary Elizabeth Lucy arrived in London to with the intention of presenting her youngest daughter, Caroline Lucy (best known as Carry) to Queen Victoria. However, things didn’t quite go as planned. Typically there would be several Drawing-rooms each month. However, all official ceremonies were suspended in spring 1850 whilst Queen Victoria awaited… Continue reading Caroline Lucy’s unconventional presentation to Queen Victoria and into society
Quite interestingly, the Stafford House ball wasn’t the first time that Mary Elizabeth Lucy, Mistress of Charlecote, had come into contact with Queen Victoria. (Read yesterday’s post to learn more about the Stafford House ball) The cousins: Queen Victoria and Victoire, Duchesse de Nemours by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1852 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026… Continue reading A Queen in the Wild: Mary Elizabeth Lucy gets a glimpse of Queen Victoria
For centuries people have been hoping for a chance to catch a glimpse of royalty. However, in the Victorian era formally meeting royals at intimate events like the theatre and balls usually meant you had found your place in high society, especially if you were personally introduced to the Queen by a member of her… Continue reading Queen Victoria, the Mistress of Charlecote and the Stafford House ball
Despite her royal status, Queen Victoria regularly opted to wear simple floral wreaths in her hair rather than lavish jewels. Whilst many of these headpieces have understandably been lost to time, one poignant example survives in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Queen Victoria with Victoria, Princess Royal, and Albert Edward, Prince of… Continue reading King Edward VII’s first birthday and Queen Victoria’s floral headpiece
Yesterday we learnt of the tragic news that King Harald V of Norway had passed away. To commemorate his passing, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about Queen Victoria’s connection to the Norwegian royal family and the new King Haakon VIII. On 22nd July 1896, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Maud of Wales, married… Continue reading Queen Victoria and the Norwegian Royal Family
Like many women of her time, Queen Victoria spent her free time enjoying crafts such as painting and needlework. Several examples of the Queen’s handicrafts still survive today, including this gorgeous pair of intricately embroidered shoes, which was given by the Queen to her third child, Princess Alice, between 1843-1848. © London Museum Judging by… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s gift to Princess Alice
Last October I shared a post about a portrait of Princess Beatrice that I unexpectedly saw on display at Kensington Palace. This portrait was one of many that I never thought I would have the pleasure of seeing in person. However, in March 2026 I once again had the excitement of seeing another portrait of… Continue reading Princess Beatrice of Battenberg by Heinrich von Angeli, 1875
On 26th August 1819, Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born at Schloss Rosenau in Coburg, Germany. To celebrate, let’s take a look at 15 facts about Prince Albert! Prince Albert by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1842 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection TrustRCIN 401412 Albert and his… Continue reading 15 facts about Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha