Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980045.g For this week’s Sketchbook Saturday we’re stepping into nature and looking at this watercolour sketch by Queen Victoria of some cattle near sitting Sandpit Gate in Windsor Great Park on 10th July 1874. According to the Queen’s journal the morning had been seasonably… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 25
Christmas at Osborne House, 20th November 2025 © Shannon McInulty / Queen.Victoria.Roses Christmas had always been a special time for Queen Victoria as a child; with decorated trees, sugary treats, lavish gifts and trips to the theatre. However, Christmas 1840 was much more poignant as she was no longer the ‘unmarried girl’ who had spent… Continue reading 1840: Queen Victoria’s first Christmas as a wife and mother
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.f This Sketchbook Saturday we’re looking at this pen and ink sketch by Queen Victoria of her first child, Princess Victoria, dated 25th August 1841. In her journal for that day Queen Victoria writes that while having their breakfast she and Albert had spent… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 24
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980054.bf As we prepare to enter December, let’s take a look at a wintery sketch by Queen Victoria, which depicts the gardens at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight during a snowstorm on 10th March 1847. In her journal the Queen writes that… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 23
Quite unusually for the time of year, on 10th March 1847 a snowstorm struck Queen Victoria’s Isle of Wight home, Osborne House. In her journal the Queen writes that it had ‘began snowing early & continued all the morning, the ground and trees being covered in snow, which I tried to make a sketch of’… Continue reading ‘The whole accident has upset us’: Tragedy strikes at Osborne House
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.az Following on from last week’s Sketchbook Saturday we’re looking at another pencil, watercolour and ink sketch by Queen Victoria her fourth child, Prince Alfred. Dated 11th October 1845, the Prince can be seen in a dark blue dress, decorated with red detailing and… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 22
If you’ve followed my work for a while then you will probably be aware of my love for Queen Victoria’s youngest child, Princess Beatrice. As a historian, I of course have a variety of favourite paintings, many of which I resigned myself to the fact that I would possibly never see in person. This stunning… Continue reading Princess Beatrice of Battenberg by Heinrich von Angeli
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.ax This week we’re looking at this intimate pencil, watercolour and ink sketch by Queen Victoria of her third and fourth children, Princess Alice and Prince Alfred. In her journal entry dated 20th September 1845, Queen Victoria writes that she "sketched Alice & Affie… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 21
In October 1849 Queen Victoria and her family were staying at Windsor Castle when illness spread amongst them. The first to fall ill was the thirty-year-old monarch. For seveal days the Queen had felt unwell, with aching limbs, headaches, muscle weakness and difficulty sleeping. However, on 24th October her symptoms began to worsen when a… Continue reading “Dreadful irritation, which is most unpleasant”: Queen Victoria and chickenpox
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980043.dj This sketchbook Saturday we’re looking at this stunning watercolour by Queen Victoria, which shows the view near the river Toce in Italy, looking towards the Simplon. Dated 5th April 1879, this beautiful landscape was created by the Queen during a drive with her… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 20
After visiting The King’s Gallery on Saturday I managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Queen Victoria’s childhood home, Kensington Palace, to see their current ‘Dress Codes’ exhibition. While mDress Codes’ is somewhat smaller than previous exhibitions held at the palace, it was amazing to see objects from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. My… Continue reading ‘Dress Codes’ exhibition highlights
Yesterday I went to The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace to see their current exhibition, ‘The Edwardians: Age of Elegance’ before it closes on 23rd November. I can safely say that this exhibition certainly didn’t disappoint. I’m planning on writing a blog about my visit in the coming days but I couldn’t resist sharing some… Continue reading ‘The Edwardians: Age of Elegance’ exhibition highlights