Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
On 26th February 1869, Prince Albert, son of Princess Helena and grandson of Queen Victoria, was born at Frogmore House, Windsor. Princess Helena with Prince Albert, dated December 1869 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III "A fine calm morning. - Much startled & surprised on getting up to receive a telegram from… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The birth of Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein, 26th February 1869
“Slept well & breakfasted at ½ p. 9, before which Mama came, bringing me a nosegay of orange flowers, & good Lehzen gave me a dear little ring. — Wrote my Journal & saw Ld Melbourne. — Had my hair dressed & the wreath of orange flowers put on my head. My wreath & veil… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: Her wedding day, 10th February 1840
On Christmas Day in 2019 viewers were on the edge of their seats as they watched Prince Albert (played by Tom Hughes) fall through and get trapped under an icy lake in the ‘Victoria’ Christmas special. Although most of us believed this scene was added for dramatic effect, it was in fact based on a… Continue reading Prince Albert’s terrifying ice skating accident
Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch Image ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 2023Edit ©️ Queen.Victoria.Roses Prince Albert is renowned for designing pieces of jewellery as a gift for his wife, Queen Victoria. One of the first, and perhaps most famous, pieces he gave her was a ‘splendid brooch of an immense Sapphire, set… Continue reading Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch
“Sunday, February 9 - Got up at ½ p.9. Received a beautiful Prayer-book from Ma.; breakfasted at 10. Wrote to Lord M. Signed. Wrote my journal. Dearest Albert and Ernest came in; dearest Albert looking so well; with a little of his blue ribbon showing. He brought me 4 beautiful old Fans. At 12 I… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The day before her wedding, 9th February 1840
1900 had been ‘a horrible year’ filled with ‘nothing but sadness and horrors of one kind & another’ for Queen Victoria. On 30th July, her third child, Prince Alfred, died of throat cancer and October also saw the death of her grandson, Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein. The Queens eldest child, Victoria, had also been… Continue reading “I should like to live a little longer”: The death of Queen Victoria
During Queen Victoria’s reign, Turkey was considered to be a small and much less important part of the Christmas menus than it is today. Before Turkey was popularised by King Edward VII, there were some rather unusual dishes on the Royal Christmas menu. ‘Christmas at Windsor’ Source: Pinterest In the 12th century King Henry II… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Christmas dinner
The Prince Albert effigy at the Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore. Dated 1862-1863 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Woke very often during the night, thinking of the sacred work to carried out at 7 o'clock. At that hour the precious earthy Remains were to be carried with all love & peace to their… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: the reburial of Prince Albert at the Frogmore Mausoleum, 18th December 1862
Queen Victoria with Princess Louise (left) and Princess Alice (right) at Balmoral in October 1863 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Felt very miserable on waking to think that this day, once so gay & joyous, had came round again. — Wet early, but it cleared rather late, & I walked to… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Christmas journals, 24th December 1863:
24th December 1862: “Alas! Xmas Eve & all the joy I used to take in it gone! — Walked & drove with Alice, stopping at Barton, to look at the Xmas trees & presents prepared for the School Children. — Gave my presents to the maids, &c. — Lunched with Baby. — Took a short… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Christmas journals, 24th & 25th December 1862, her first Christmas after the death of Prince Albert:
“I have never had the courage to attempt to describe this dreadful day – but I will now at the distance of ten years (Feb. 1872), with the terrible facts imprinted on my mind as clearly as tho’ they had occurred yesterday, & with the help of notes scrawled down at the time, try to… Continue reading The final illness and death of Prince Albert through Queen Victoria’s letters and journals, 14th December 1861:
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1859©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Already this dear Festival returned again, & this year with true Xmas weather, snow on the ground & sharp frost. — Albert & the Princes our shooting, but Louis preferred remaining with Alice. Walked down with them to the skating… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Christmas journals, 24th December 1860, her final Christmas with Prince Albert: