Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
This famous photograph of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from May 1854 is often described as showing the couple in their wedding costumes from fourteen years earlier. However, the history of this photograph and the dress itself have been well documented not only by a colourised version of the image from the same time period… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s 1854 Green Court Dress
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
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
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 10th February 1840 Queen Victoria made fashion history when she married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in London. Like all weddings, there was much speculation over what the bride would be wearing. As the Head of State, it was suggested that Queen… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s wedding dress
Eagle brooch by Charles Augustus Ferdinand du Ve, 1839-1840 Royal Collection Trust / ©️ HM King Charles III For her wedding, Queen Victoria hired twelve Maids-of-Honour to carry her 18 foot (5.5 metres) train. Following the ceremony, Queen Victoria ‘gave all the Train Bearers, as a souvenir, a small eagle brooch in turquoises,’ which would… Continue reading Queen Victorias gift to her Train Bearers
On 15th June 1905, Princess Margaret of Connaught, daughter of Prince Arthur and granddaughter of Queen Victoria, married Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Upon reaching their teenage years Margaret and her sister, Patricia, were considered two of the most beautiful, and therefore most eligible, women in Europe. At the beginning… Continue reading The wedding of Princess Margaret of Connaught and Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden
Known for their extreme love, fiery arguments and tragic demise, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are one of history’s most iconic couples. But have you ever wondered where this famous love story began? If so, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to join me as I explore the courtship of Queen Victoria and Prince… Continue reading The courtship of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
On 20th April 1894, Princess Alix of Hesse, daughter of Princess Alice and granddaughter of Queen Victoria, became engaged to Tsar Nicholas II. Alix and Nicholas in August 1894 Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2024 “A dull morning. — Breakfasted alone with Beatrice. — Soon after Ella came in, much agitated,… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The engagement of Princess Alix of Hesse and Tsar Nicholas II, 20th April 1894
On 19th April 1894, Princess Victoria Melita, daughter of Prince Alfred, and Prince Ernst Louis, son of Princess Alice, got married at Schloss Ehrenburg, Coburg. “I will try & describe this eventful day. — Heard a beautiful Chorale being played under the windows of Affie's Palais. — Got up in good time & breakfasted with… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The wedding of Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Prince Ernst Louis of Hesse, 19th April 1894
“Dearest Uncle, -I hasten to announce to you that yesterday our dear young couple here were engaged, and that we are all very happy. Louis was spoken to yesterday on our return from Aldershot by Albert, who told him he would have an opportunity of speaking to Alice and this opportunity he took last night… Continue reading Letter from Queen Victoria to King Leopold I Of Belgium on the engagement of Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse
On 13th March 1879, Prince Arthur, third son and seventh child of Queen Victoria, married Princess Louise Margaret at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. “Thank God, the morning was beautifully bright. — Arthur & Louischen breakfasted with me alone. They gave me a very pretty gold hand bracelet, with their names in raised letters. He also… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The wedding of Prince Arthur of Connaught and Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, 13th March 1879