Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.ax This week we’re looking at this intimate pencil, watercolour and ink sketch by Queen Victoria of her third and fourth children, Princess Alice and Prince Alfred. In her journal entry dated 20th September 1845, Queen Victoria writes that she "sketched Alice & Affie… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 21
A couple of weeks ago I asked my Instagram followers to send in their questions for historian, Ioana N. Gaurean, best known as Marie_of_Romania on instagram. Ioana specialises in the life of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Marie of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, later Queen Consort of Romania, so I am excited to have teamed… Continue reading Q&A with historian, loana N. Gaurean
During the First World War Princess Victoria Melita - daughter of Prince Alfred and granddaughter of Queen Victoria- worked as a nurse for the Red Cross and helped organise the motorised ambulance unit. When Victoria returned to St Petersburg in February 1917 following a trip to Romania, fears had began rising over the stability of… Continue reading The later life and death of Princess Victoria Melita
(from left to right) Prince Alfred; Marie, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Princess Marie; and Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Painted in 1884 by Carl Rudolph Sohn.©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 2024 "A hopelessly wet day, & a high north east wind. - Much distressed to hear by a telegram… Continue reading Queen Victorias Journal: The death of Prince Alfred of Edinburgh, 6th February 1899
On 23rd January 1874, Prince Alfred, fourth child of Queen Victoria, married Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, at the Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Russia. The Marriage of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, by Nicholas Chevalier, dated 1874-1875©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “My mind entirely taken up with today's great event… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The wedding of Prince Alfred and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, 23rd January 1874
On the morning of 15th October 1874, Queen Victoria ‘found many telegrams & the welcome news that Marie had been safely delivered of a son’ at Buckingham Palace. Prince Alfred was the eldest child and only son of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Prince Alfred in May… Continue reading The life of Prince Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
On 6th September 1844, Prince Alfred, fourth child and second son of Queen Victoria, wasbaptised in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle. Christening of Prince Alfred, 6 September 1844, by Doyle, James ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM Ling Charles III “How thankful do I feel to be so well, exactly a month after I… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The christening of Prince Alfred, 6th September 1844
Out of Queen Victoria’s four sons, Prince Alfred is perhaps the least known. From a young age, Alfred was - in his mother’s eyes - the perfect son. Unlike his brother, the Prince of Wales, Alfred was intelligent like his oldest sister, Victoria, and regularly made his parents proud. However, to the dismay of his… Continue reading The life of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Although dedicated to her journals, Queen Victoria was forced to pause her daily habit upon the birth of each of her nine children. When her fourth child, Prince Alfred, was born on 6th August 1844, she once again took time away to recover. In this post you can read her journal covering almost twenty days… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: 25th August 1844 following the birth of Prince Alfred
On 4th August 1900, Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, was buried at Friedhof am Glockenberg, Coburg. However, due to her age and fragile health, Queen Victoria was unable to attend. Prince Alfred in July 1893 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “Another most trying day. At 12 (11 here) the funeral… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The funeral of Prince Alfred, 4th August 1900
On 30th July 1900, Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, fourth child and second son of Queen Victoria, died aged 55 at Schloss Rosenau. His death coincided with multiple tragic deaths that filled Queen Victoria’s final year. Her journal shows just how painful and heart breaking his death was Prince Alfred taken around the… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Alfred, 30th July 1900
On 20th April 1884, Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born at Eastwell Park, Kent. She was the youngest child of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. In her journal, Queen Victoria wrote that she ‘Heard that dear Marie had been safely confined of a… Continue reading The life of Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh, Duchess of Galliera