Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
With an extreme lack of rehearsal, a falling Lord and a picnic at the alter, Queen Victoria’s £79,000 Coronation certainly didn’t go as smoothly as you might expect. Join me, Shannon McInulty, as I explore Queen Victoria’s Coronation hiccups. ‘The Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey, 28 June 1838’ by Sir George Hayter, dated… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Coronation fails
On 20th May 1876, Prince Harald, son of Princess Helena and grandson of Queen Victoria, died aged just eight days at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor. “Reached Perth at ½ p. g. I found 2 telegrams awaiting me, which I opened, & was dreadfully shocked & distressed by the following words from Christian: "Our darling little boy… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Harald of Schleswig-Holstein, 20th May 1876
On 27th March 1879, Prince Waldemar, son of Princess Victoria and grandson of Queen Victoria, died aged 11, at New Palace, Potsdam, Prussia. “Got up, feeling rested. — Received a telegram, which on opening, I found to my unbounded grief & horror, to contain the terrible words: "Have just taken a last look at the… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Waldemar of Prussia, 27th March 1879
Born at Marlborough house at half past 6 in the morning of 20th February 1867, Princess Louise entered the world four months premature and was immediately surrounded by fears over her mother’s health. Princess Alexandra, daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark, had fallen ill with rheumatic fever towards the end of her pregnancy. Her… Continue reading The life of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
Queen Victoria’s reign coincided with the advancement of countless technologies, including: photography, the flushing toilet and the lightbulb. But did you know that Queen Victoria was the first European Monarch to use a telephone? That’s right, in January 1878, Alexander Graham Bell travelled across the Solent to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, where… Continue reading Queen Victoria uses the telephone for the first time
The Prince Albert effigy at the Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore. Dated 1862-1863 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Woke very often during the night, thinking of the sacred work to carried out at 7 o'clock. At that hour the precious earthy Remains were to be carried with all love & peace to their… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: the reburial of Prince Albert at the Frogmore Mausoleum, 18th December 1862
Prince Carl, dated 1855 Source: Wikipedia “The morning was fine & bright, though cold. We walked out with Fritz & Vicky. -- No letters arrived, which worried me a good deal. — It being really fine, we drove out with Vicky & Fritz, Alice, going in the 2nd carriage. — The evening messenger came &… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Carl of Leiningen
Despite going against normal tradition, Victorias role as the monarch meant that she had to propose to her future husband. In October 1839, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha returned to Britain to visit his cousin, the Queen. From their births in 1819, a match between the two had been plotted by their mutual family… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: Her engagement to Prince Albert, 15th October 1839
Princess Marie in June 1888 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Walked with Beatrice up to the top of the Glassalt Falls. I rested once or twice & stopped to look at the Falls, which were very full. We had a slight shower. — Received a telegram from Affie, saying that Marie… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The birth of Princess Marie of Edinburgh, 29th October 1875