Category: Queen Victoria’s Journal

Yesterday we learnt of the tragic news that King Harald V of Norway had passed away. To commemorate his passing, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about Queen Victoria’s connection to the Norwegian royal family and the new King Haakon VIII. On 22nd July 1896, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Maud of Wales, married… Continue reading Queen Victoria and the Norwegian Royal Family

1840 marked not only the year of Queen Victoria’s marriage to her beloved Prince Albert, or the birth of their first child, but also the year that Victoria truly began to find herself within her role as monarch. With a husband and child, Victoria had officially stepped into Victorian womanhood and soon her jewellery box… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet

Like anyone moving to a new area, after purchasing Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in 1845 Queen Victoria found herself wanting to get involved with local hobbies. In 1833 Victoria, who at that time was known as Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, had visited the island with her widowed mother, the Duchess of… Continue reading Prince Albert lays the foundation stone for The Royal Victoria Yacht Clubhouse in Ryde, Isle of Wight

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

On 29th March 1871 London witnessed the opening of one of its most iconic buildings, the Royal Albert Hall, in a grand ceremony attended by the highest members of society. Located in South Kensington, the Hall is one of several buildings to have been built in the wake of the 1851 Great Exhibition. Headed by… Continue reading ‘An impressive spectacle of its kind’: Queen Victoria opens the Royal Albert Hall

© Historic Royal Palaces This ‘Royal Fashion Friday’ we’re looking at this stunning dress that was worn by Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. Dating from around 1911-1912, the dress was worn by the Queen to attend one of the most iconic royal events, Ascot. While the light colours and floral pattern capture the… Continue reading Queen Alexandra’s Ascot dress

Children wearing sailor’s suits is commonly associated with the upper classes of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, but have you ever wondered where this trend began? Well, just like the tradition of the white wedding dress, we have Queen Victoria to thank. Sailor suit worn by King Edward VIII, 1902© Historic Royal Palaces King Edward… Continue reading Influencing childrenswear: How Queen Victoria popularised the sailor’s suit

Queen Victoria by George Koberwein © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 406884 On 28th November 1843 Queen Victoria arrived at Drayton Manor for a three night stay with Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel. Upon arriving at the Manor, Queen Victoria was greeted by Lady Peel and the Duchess of Buccleuch,… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s pink evening dress

On Saturday (7th March 2025) I had the pleasure of visiting Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire. Despite growing up just half an hour away from the castle, I have never had chance to visit and moving to the Isle of Wight naturally made visiting trickier to arrange. However, in January I heard about the castle’s temporary… Continue reading ‘Threads of Victoria’: Celebrating Queen Victoria’s 1843 visit to Tamworth

King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, when Prince and Princess of Wales, in their wedding clothes, 1863 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2870063 On 10th March 1863 Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales married Princess Alexandra of Denmark at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Whilst the… Continue reading Queen Alexandra’s wedding dress

Queen Victoria's wedding dress © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection TrustRCIN 74853 Commonly attributed to Queen Victoria, this stunning dress dates back to 1851. Wanting to support British trades Queen Victoria regularly wore fabrics made by local manufacturers. This particular dress is made out of blue watered Spitalfields and features a design… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s floral dress

© Historic Royal Palaces Made between 1840-1850, this Russian-styled wool tunic is a rare survival from the wardrobe of Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). Whilst Bertie, as he was known amongst his family, appears to have worn several similar tunics throughout his childhood, this particular one was… Continue reading King Edward VII’s childhood tunic