Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
On Wednesday I shared a post with questions about Queen Victoria that have always played on my mind and one of my lovely followers challenged me to do some research and see what answers I could come up with. So, today I begin by looking at one of the biggest questions: What was Queen Victoria’s… Continue reading Prison or Protection: What was Queen Victoria’s childhood under the Kensington System really like?
What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments © Queen.Victoria.Roses / Shannon McInulty Don’t forget to subscribe to my website to receive email updates about new posts! This article is the intellectual property of Queen.Victoria.Roses and should not be COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances unless… Continue reading Questions about Queen Victoria that keep me up at night
On 1st May 1851 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert experienced ‘one of the greatest & most glorious days’ of her life when the attended the magnificent opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, the first international exhibition to showcase the newest technologies from around the world. Whilst he… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Great Exhibition Dress
Prince Albert proudly designed Osborne House on the Isle of Wight as a seaside residence for his wife, Queen Victoria, and their nine children as a way to enjoy time together away from the bustle of London. Between the time they purchased the house in 1845 until Albert’s premature death in 1861 the house was… Continue reading A royal memorial: Prince Albert at Osborne House
One of the cutest events to take place during the happier years of Queen Victoria’s reign is the children’s costume ball, which took place at Buckingham Palace on 7th April 1859 in honour of Prince Leopold’s sixth birthday. The Children's Fancy Ball at Buckingham Palace, 7th April 1859 by Eugenio Agneni © Royal Collection Enterprises… Continue reading ‘It had the prettiest effect possible’: A children’s ball is held at Buckingham Palace
© Lyon and Turnbull Yesterday (22nd April 2026), auction house Lyon and Turnbull sold this stunning gold and turquoise bracelet which had once been given as a gift from Queen Victoria to Lady Rachel Russell. Described by the Queen as ‘a delightful child of 11 years old,’ Rachel was believed to be the product of… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s gift to Lady Rachel Russell
Today (21st April 2026) marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. As part of their commemorative post on instagram, the Royal Family shared this lovely photo of Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth standing beside a painting of Queen Victoria’s seventh child, Prince Leopold, on October 1842. ‘Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth… Continue reading Queen Elizabeth poses with a painting of Prince Leopold
Last Tuesday (7th April 2026) I visited Osborne House on the Isle of Wight to see their two new exhibitions: ‘Tradition and Innovation: Victoria’s Final Journey’ and ‘Painters and Patrons: Emma Gaggiotti and Prince Albert’. Queen Victoria first purchased the Osborne estate and its Georgian house in 1845. Over the next few years Prince Albert… Continue reading Two two new exhibitions arrive at Queen Victoria’s Isle of Wight residence, Osborne House, for 2026
Preserved in the collection of Carisbrooke Castle Museum on the Isle of Wight, this beautiful evening cape is believed to have been worn by Queen Victoria at her island home, Osborne House, in the 1870s. The main body of the cape is made out of cream tin-weighted silk, trimmed with black silk and decorated with… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Ostrich Feather Cape
Recently I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy of History Press’s new book, The Aristocrat and The Able Seaman: The Countess of Rothes, Thomas Jones, and the tragedy of Titanic by Angela Young. Whilst everyone knows about my passion for researching Victorian royals, another of my historical interests is the sinking of… Continue reading Book Review: ‘The Aristocrat and The Able Seaman: The Countess of Rothes, Thomas Jones, and the tragedy of Titanic’ by Angela Young
In John Phillips’s 1860 painting of the wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal, and Prince Friedrich of Prussia in January 1859, Queen Victoria can be seen wearing a dress ‘of mauve moire antique & silver,’ trimmed with Honiton lace, which also decorated the velvet train. In addition to this, Victoria wore her ‘Regal Diadem & the… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s purple and silver dresses
On 4th April 1900 Queen Victoria arrived in Ireland for the final time in her 63 year reign. During her lifetime Victoria only visited Ireland four times, with her final visit being perhaps the most significant. Queen Victoria in her carriage during her trip to Ireland In October 1899 the second Boer War had begun… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s shamrock parasol and bonnet