Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
Christmas 1860 was the final happy festival to have been spent by Queen Victoria before the premature death of Prince Albert the following December. However, while this Christmas was later looked upon with sorrow, at the time, the scene captured a thriving family, who celebrated the engagement of their third child, Princess Alice to Prince… Continue reading ‘A merry happy night’: Prince Albert’s final Christmas
Queen Victoria’s final Christmas was filled with nothing but heartache for the 81 year old monarch. 1900 had been Victoria’s annus horribilis, with the deaths of her third child, Prince Alfred, and her grandson, Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein. On top of this, the second Boer War was in full swing and the elderly… Continue reading “This has indeed been a terribly sad Christmas for us all”: Queen Victoria’s final Christmas
Until the Victorian era Christmas was a reasonably uncelebrated festival amongst the ordinary people. However, in the 1840s, something changed. The publication of Charles Dickens’ novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ on 19th December 1843 not only brought people’s attention to the religious event, but also created a new perspective on the joys that the otherwise depressing… Continue reading 1832: Christmas with Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace
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
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
Queen Victoria with Princess Victoria and Prince Albert Edward by Sir Edwin Landseer, dated 1842 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 403120 On 25th December 1842, Queen Victoria wrote in her journal that she and Albert had attempted to go for a walk with members of their household ‘but were… Continue reading International Cat Day: Princess Victoria’s pet
“Fortunately a beautiful day for the Opening of the Crystal Palace. — We walked in the garden. — Lunched early, & at 2 we started with our whole numerous party for Sydenham, we Ladies in very elegant morning dresses, & the Gentlemen, in uniform. Our nephews went with us in the carriage. Our 4 eldest Children… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The opening of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, 10th June 1854
On 11th May 1900, Queen Victoria hosted her final Drawing-Room at Buckingham Palace. In her journal she wrote: Queen Victoria's last Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, dated 1900 by Max Cowper. RCIN 923457 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust “A fine day. — Arthur, Louischen, & their girls breakfasted with us.… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: Queen Victoria hosts her final Drawing-Room at Buckingham Palace, 11th May 1900
On 23rd November 1887, Princess Victoria Eugénie, daughter of Princess Beatrice and granddaughter of Queen Victoria, was christened at Balmoral Castle. “[…] The ceremony was at 1, & was performed by Dr Lees. We sat on either side of the font, I, with those who represented the sponsors, viz: the Dss of Roxburghe for Vicky,… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The christening of Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, 23rd November 1887
Having spent his childhood Christmases in Germany, Prince Albert had many fond memories surrounding his native Christmas stories and traditions, including the legend of St. Nicholas, which he was determined to pass onto his own children. Representing the jolly merriment of the festive season, Father Christmas is famous for giving edible treats to children who… Continue reading A Victorian Christmas: St. Nicholas Visits Windsor Castle