Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
“A dreadful day. — Dear Alix came to breakfast. She showed us a letter she had got from poor Louis. — The Govt had a Majority of 110 on Mr Fawcett's motion, also about India. — It was fine bright, though cold, which we rejoiced at on account of today's sad ceremony. Just a month,… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The funeral of Princess Alice of Hesse, 18th December 1878
King Leopold I of Belgium, dated 1864 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “This was beloved Uncle's birthday. For years always took such care that a letter from me should arrive in good time to greet him on this day. Today he is being carried to his grave! The contrast is too… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The funeral of King Leopold I of Belgium, 16th December 1865
Queen Victoria’s journal: “When I woke at 4 sent to enquire & heard dear Albert had slept very quietly & well & had only woke to take his food. At 7 saw D' Jenner, who reported favourably, thank God! At 8 went over to my beloved one, who himself admitted that it had been his… Continue reading The final illness and death of Prince Albert through Queen Victoria’s letters and journals, 9th December 1861:
Princess Marie (left) and Princess Alix of Hesse (right), dated May 1878 ©️ Royal Collection Trust “A very dreadful day. — After breakfast, a telegram was brought to me, which said, that precious little May was gone! This is too dreadful. How my darling child, adored that little angel. Westerweller telegraphed the news. The sweet… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Princess Marie of Hesse, 16th November 1878
Prince Carl, dated 1855 Source: Wikipedia “The morning was fine & bright, though cold. We walked out with Fritz & Vicky. -- No letters arrived, which worried me a good deal. — It being really fine, we drove out with Vicky & Fritz, Alice, going in the 2nd carriage. — The evening messenger came &… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Carl of Leiningen
Princess Alice and Prince Louis with three of their children (left to right): Princess Victoria, Prince Friedrich and Prince Ernst Louis. By Christian Karl August Noack, dated 1871©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III "A beautiful very hot morning. — Drove Beatrice in the nice little pony carriage, with my charming ponies —… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Friedrich of Prussia, 29th May 1873
On 29th of October 1900, Prince Christian Victor, son of Princess Helena and grandson of Queen Victoria, died aged 33 in Pretoria, South Africa. Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, dated 1900 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Rather showery morning after some frost. — Saw Dr Bankart after breakfasted, who received late… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal- 29th October 1900, The death of Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein
Prince Alfred with his mother, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, dated July 1876 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III "A hopelessly wet day, & a high north east wind. — Much distressed to hear by a telegram from Dr Bankart, who accompanied young Alfred to Meran, that he is worse, & that… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 6th February 1899
On 23rd September 1872, Princess Feodora of Leiningen, half-sister of Queen Victoria, died aged 64 at Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. Princess Feodora by Franx Zaver Winterhalter, dated 1872 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 23rd September: “Can I write it? My own darling, only sister, my dear excellent, noble Feodore is no more!… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Princess Feodora of Leiningen, 23rd-25th September 1874
Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) with her mother “My dearly beloved Uncle, On this, the most dreadful day of my life, does your poor broken-hearted child write one line of love and devotion. She is gone! That precious, dearly beloved tender Mother- whom I never was parted from but for a few months-without whom I… Continue reading Letter from Queen Victoria to her uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium, following her mothers death on 16th March 1861:
From when she was seventeen, Queen Victoria had shared a close bond with her cousin and brother-in-law, Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Besides her children, Ernst had been Victorias final living connection to Albert and was the only other person that truly knew him. In todays journal entry, you will be able to… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 22nd August 1893
"This terrible day come round again! Slept tolerably, but woke very often, constantly seeing darling Alice before me. When I woke in the morning, was not for a moment aware of all our terrible anxiety. And then it all burst upon me. I asked for news, but nothing had come. Then got up, & went,… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Princess Alice, 14th December 1878