Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
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
1840 marked not only the year of Queen Victoria’s marriage to her beloved Prince Albert, or the birth of their first child, but also the year that Victoria truly began to find herself within her role as monarch. With a husband and child, Victoria had officially stepped into Victorian womanhood and soon her jewellery box… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet
When looking at old portraits it is difficult not to feel some sort of closeness to the sitter, with their expression and clothing giving us a glimpse into their personality. Yet if you look closely at each individual brush stroke, you get an even deeper understanding of the artist and the thought process that created… Continue reading “She is a very dear friend”: Philip de László visits Princess Beatrice at Carisbrooke Castle
If you’ve been following my research for a while then you will have probably noticed that I often work closely with Carisbrooke Castle Museum on the Isle of Wight. The museum was first opened in 1898 by Queen Victoria’s youngest child, Princess Beatrice, as a memorial to her husband, Prince Henry of Battenberg. The princess’s… Continue reading Preserving their legacy: How you can help protect Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg for future generations
Like anyone moving to a new area, after purchasing Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in 1845 Queen Victoria found herself wanting to get involved with local hobbies. In 1833 Victoria, who at that time was known as Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, had visited the island with her widowed mother, the Duchess of… Continue reading Prince Albert lays the foundation stone for The Royal Victoria Yacht Clubhouse in Ryde, Isle of Wight
Having grown up attending Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight, Queen Victoria’s children and grandchildren had a great appreciation for the art of sailing. In fact, in later years the Cowes Regatta appears to have become somewhat of a uniting event in the royal calendar, with members of Victoria’s family travelling from all around… Continue reading A Royal Rivalry: King Edward VII and Kaiser Wilhelm II at Cowes Week
When looking at old pictures of royalty there is one thing that catches everyone’s eye… the jewels that glisten under the candlelight and certify their position of importance and wealth. However, when we dig a little deeper we can discover the smaller, less dazzling pieces perhaps hold some of the greatest significance. One piece that… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s engagement ring
Last month (16th June 2026) a rare bodice worn by Queen Victoria went up for auction in London. Dating from the 1890s, the garment is a classic example of the clothing worn by Queen Victoria in her later years. The bodice itself is made out of black silk, with layers of black matte crepe and… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s bodice goes up for auction
Upon the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria instantly flung herself into a deep state of mourning, beginning her forty year stint of only wearing black. Prior to Albert’s death, Queen Victoria had always taken a keen interest in fashion. Whilst wearing black limited her choice in decorative fabrics, Victoria made sure that… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s early mourning bodice