Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
Like many Victorians, Queen Victoria was a firm believer in the spirit world and would regularly discuss “magnetism, ghosts, dreams” [1]. Throughout the early years of her reign, Victoria would regularly sit with her Prime Minister and close companion, Lord Melbourne, to discuss various topics. On 6th May 1838, Lord M had spent some time… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s ghostly encounters
Following Prince Albert’s death in 1861, Queen Victoria met with several mediums in an attempt to communicate with her husband once more. Whilst all of the performers were considered unsuccessful by the Queen, there is one man whose psychic skill went on to cause havoc within the royal palaces. Just a few months after the… Continue reading Prince Albert’s spirit passes into John Brown
During my trip to London last month I returned to Queen Victorian childhood home, Kensington Palace, where I finally got to see an object that has been on my list for the best part of a decade… Queen Victoria’s 1843 dress. © Queen.Victoria.Roses / Shannon McInulty This dress has always been a favourite of mine… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s 1843 dress
As we come to the end of the third quarter of 2026 let’s take a look at all the articles I’ve shared between July and September! Book Review: ‘Mistress of Charlecote: The memoirs of Mary Elizabeth Lucy 1803-1889’ Queen Victoria’s early mourning bodice Queen Victoria’s bodice goes up for auction Queen Victoria’s engagement ring A… Continue reading 2026 third quarter roundup (July-September)
At the beginning of September I went to see the ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ exhibition at the King’s Gallery, London. Everything was beautifully displayed and told the evolution of Queen Elizabeth’s clothing through the years. While I loved seeing everything, here are some of my exhibition highlights! The royal christening gown, made… Continue reading ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ exhibition highlights
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