Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
In the evening of 30th November 1936, the Crystal Palace was tragically destroyed by fire, exactly 85 years after it housed the 1851 Great Exhibition. Designed by botanist, Joseph Paxton, the Crystal Palace was made of iron beams and 300,000 panes of glass, which helped preserve the pre-existing trees in Hyde Park where the exhibition… Continue reading The Crystal Palace is destroyed by fire
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
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
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
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
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
I know I’m a bit late to this social media trend but I couldn’t resist joining in! There are so many niches that excite me as a historian so it was tricky for me to narrow it down to just 10 things. What are your 10 historical obsessions? Let me know in the comments section… Continue reading One history girl, 10 obsessions!
On 24th September 2025, it was announced that a ‘galloping gig’, believed to have belonged to Queen Victoria and used by her grandchildren/ great-grandchildren will soon be going up for auction. However, this isn’t the first time I have heard about this historical object, which has spent years in the private collection at The Grange,… Continue reading A ‘galloping gig’ (pushchair) once owned by Queen Victoria is set to sell at auction, 2025
Did you know that the United Kingdom’s first ever theme park was on the Isle of Wight? Did you also know that Queen Victoria visited its very first attraction? On 24th August 1853, Queen Victoria left her Isle of Wight home, Osborne House, and embarked on “another very pretty tour, round part of this dear… Continue reading A royal curiosity: Queen Victoria and the Blackgang whale
For Queen Victoria, Wednesday 20th August 1884 began like any other. The morning was “splendid, but very hot” as she took breakfast under a tree at her beloved Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Then, at 11:30 she received the news that the Abyssinian envoys had arrived with gifts from King John of Abyssinia.… Continue reading An elephant at Osborne: King John of Abyssinia’s unusual gift to Queen Victoria
Just as we have been experiencing recently, the 17th August 1899 had been a ‘very hot’ day on the Isle of Wight; and like any other summers day spent at her summer residence, Osborne House, Queen Victoria took tea with her granddaughter, Princess Helena Victoria “Thora” of Schleswig-Holstein. However, this day wasn’t the same as… Continue reading Queen Victoria attends a fête at Carisbrooke Castle, 17th August 1899