Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust RCIN 980024.fa This week we’re looking at this adorable pencil and watercolour sketch by Queen Victoria of her youngest child, Princess Beatrice. The sketch has been dated 16th July and 8th August 1858. On the latter date Queen Victoria writes in her journal: ‘After luncheon,… Continue reading Sketchbook Saturday, week 14
For Queen Victoria, Wednesday 20th August 1884 began like any other. The morning was “splendid, but very hot” as she took breakfast under a tree at her beloved Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Then, at 11:30 she received the news that the Abyssinian envoys had arrived with gifts from King John of Abyssinia.… Continue reading An elephant at Osborne: King John of Abyssinia’s unusual gift to Queen Victoria
Just as we have been experiencing recently, the 17th August 1899 had been a ‘very hot’ day on the Isle of Wight; and like any other summers day spent at her summer residence, Osborne House, Queen Victoria took tea with her granddaughter, Princess Helena Victoria “Thora” of Schleswig-Holstein. However, this day wasn’t the same as… Continue reading Queen Victoria attends a fête at Carisbrooke Castle, 17th August 1899
Having spent most of his childhood living in the presence of his grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Alexander of Battenberg was known to be arrogant and egotistical. However, despite his high opinion of himself, Alexander would go on to serve in all three armed services and lived a reasonably modest life compared to his royal cousins.… Continue reading The military career and death of Prince Alexander of Battenberg
On 26th October 1944, Princess Beatrice, youngest child of Queen Victoria, passed away aged 87 at Brantridge Park in West Sussex. Queen Victoria and Princess Beatrice, May 1879© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust Devoted to her mother, Beatrice rarely left the Queens side; even during her marriage to Prince Henry of… Continue reading The death of Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, 26th October 1944
On 24th October 1887, Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, daughter of Princess Beatrice and granddaughter of Queen Victoria, was born at Balmoral Castle. Queen Victoria with Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, September 1897 ©️ Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust “Was up in the night with my poor Beatrice, who was very… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The birth of Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, 24th October 1887
On 30th July 1892, Queen Victoria awoke to an array of telegrams from “Beatrice & Liko [Henry of Battenberg] which gave me a great fright”. Upon reading the line "Beatrice is now calm & composed", Victoria instantly feared for the worst. As she went through more of the telegrams, the Queen soon realised that her… Continue reading Princess Beatrice narrowly escapes a fire in her bedroom
At 5am on 23rd November 1886, Prince Alexander of Battenberg, eldest child of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg, was born at Windsor Castle. In her journal Queen Victoria described how the “little bundle” had “screamed tremendously” before being placed in her arms and presented to Home Secretary, Lord Cross, in the Audience Room.… Continue reading The life of Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marques of Carisbrooke
Tucked inside the ominous walls of Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight is a small, independent museum, which is bursting with royal connections. From the imprisonment of King Charles I in 1647 to toys from your childhood, the museum is a great place to visit this summer. But do you know how the museum… Continue reading A royal legacy: Princess Beatrice’s Isle of Wight Museum
According to Queen Victoria’s journal, at ‘10 m. past 2’ on 21st May 1889, Princess Beatrice of Battenberg ‘gave birth to a fine large Bay’ at Windsor Castle ‘without any difficulty’. Prince Leopold (left) and his brother, Prince Maurice, in April 1895Royal Collection Trust/ ©️ HM King Charles III Known as ‘Leo’ by his family… Continue reading The life of Prince Leopold of Battenberg, later Lord Leopold Mountbatten
Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg in Darmstadt, dated April 1885 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 2024 "This has been such an awful day that it is almost impossible to describe it. A terrible blow has fallen on us all, especially on my poor darling Beatrice. Our dearly loved Liko… Continue reading Queen Victorias Journal: The death of Prince Henry of Battenberg, 20th January 1896
Queen Victoria (right) with Princess Beatrice (left) in May 1886 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 2024 "Had a restless night & woke very often. The ground was white with snow when I got up & it snowed off & on the whole morning. - Got out in a closed carriage for… Continue reading The final journals of Queen Victoria – part 10, 8th January 1901: