Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
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 9th December 1897, Queen Victoria made written instructions for her dressers detailing the items she wished to be placed in her coffin. Queen Victoria on her death-bed by Sir Hubert von Herkomer on 24th January 1901 Royal Collection Trust / ©️ HM King Charles III “I wish to be buried in a white silk… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s burial instructions
On 6th April 1871, Prince Alexander John, son of Prince Albert Edward, later King Edward VII and grandson of Queen Victoria, was born at Sandringham House, Norfolk. Sadly he died the following day. 6th April “Very bright & sunny, but a very cold wind. — Went out with Leopold & enquired for Toward at Barton,… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The birth and death of Prince Alexander John of Wales, 6th & 7th April 1871
On 13th March 1892, Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, husband of Princess Alice and Son-in-law of Queen Victoria, died aged just 54 at New Palace, Grand Duchy of Hesse. Princess Alice and Prince Louise of Hesse in July 1862©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 2024 “A dreadful day, one… Continue reading Queen Victorias Journal: The death of Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, 13th March 1892
In 1897 Queen Victoria created twelve pages of written instructions for her funeral and burial. However, without her family knowing Victoria had also created a second secret list, which was to only be read by her physician and dresser, Sir James Reid and Mrs Tuck, following her death. In the evening of 25th January 1901,… Continue reading The unusual items buried in Queen Victoria’s coffin
(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
“This was a terrible day, but one never to be forgotten! It dawned very dull & dark & unfortunately unlike yesterday, remained dull & dreary, & there was once or twice a little drizzle. — Slept fairly well, but awoke dreading what was before us. — Edward Weimar, Franz Teck & Dolly & Ernest Leiningen… Continue reading Queen Victorias Journal: The funeral of Henry of Battenberg, 5th February 1896
Upon the death of Queen Victoria the United Kingdom fell into a deep state of mourning. Shops dressed their windows in all black before putting up black shutters as a mark of respect. While ordinary people took time to grieve their monarch, everyone in the royal household was frantically organising the late Queens funeral and… Continue reading Chaos turned tradition: Queen Victoria’s final journey from her bed at Osborne to St George’s Chapel
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
Prince Albert Victor, dated sometime in the late 1880s ©️ National Portrait Gallery, London “This was the dreadful day, & I was thinking of what was taking place at each hour! — Got a kind letter from dear Bertie. — The dear Remains, with the poor Parents, Children, & Tecks, were to leave Sandringham at… Continue reading Queen Victorias Journal: The funeral of Prince Albert Victor, 20th January 1892
Queen Victoria by Heinrich Von Angeli, dated 1875©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III 2024 "A better night, but felt very tired. - Out in the garden chair after 1, Lenchen Beatrice walking with me. Very fine & like spring. Went as far as Barton & back. Felt so weary that I did… Continue reading The final journals of Queen Victoria – part 13, 11th January 1901:
“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