Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
Queen Victoria's bracelet, 23 Nov 1839 Royal Collection Trust / © HM King Charles III Here we can see Queen Victoria’s gold and amethyst bracelet. It was given to Queen as an engagement gift from her mother, the Duchess of Kent, on the day she announced her engagement to Prince Albert to the Privy Council. … Continue reading Queen Victorias gold and amethyst bracelet
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 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
The front and reverse of the brooch Source: ‘The Queen’s Diamonds’ by Hugh Roberts, page 49 Edit: Queen.Victoria.Roses In October 1856, Queen Victoria commissioned the royal jeweller, Garrard, to remodel an existing diamond ornament as a new and elaborate fringe-pattern chaîne de corsage, which was to be worn along the top of the fashionably low-cut… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooche
Queen Victoria’s Strawberry Leaf Tiara Queen Victoria’s ruby and diamond bandeau was designed by Prince Albert and made by Joseph Kitching in 1844. In 1848, the piece was altered by Garrard’s (the court jeweller) and again in 1860, when ‘Strawberry leaves, scrolls and Rubies‘ were added. From then, it became known as the Strawberry Leaf… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Strawberry Leaf Tiara
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
Four Queens wearing the brooches. Left to right: Queen Alexandra at the State Opening of Parliament, February 1901; Queen Mary, 1912-1913; Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen mother); Queen Elizabeth II, at her final balcony appearance, 5th June 2022 In 1858, the King of Hanover claimed all jewels that once belonged to Queen Charlotte. As a… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches
Made by Rundell, Bridge & Co in 1838, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet is made up of five links, each containing nine large diamonds surrounded by diamond foliage. In order to make the piece, the diamonds were removed from a George IV Garter and a piece of Hanoverian insignia, which had been inherited by the young… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet
On the 5th July 1866, Princess Helena, fifth child of Queen Victoria, married Prince Christian of Scleswig-Holstein in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle ‘The Marriage of Princess Helena, 5 July 1866’ by Christian Karl Magnussen, dated 1866-1869 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III While serving as her mothers private secretary, Helena… Continue reading The wedding of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
The Oriental Circlet is perhaps one of the least known of Queen Victoria’s collection. In todays blog we look at the tiara’s background and how it was used after Queen Victoria’s death in 1901. Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet as it is today As with many pieces of jewellery owned by Queen Victoria, the Oriental Circlet… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Throughout her reign Queen Victoria commissioned numerous pieces of iconic royal jewellery. One of the most recognisable is certainly her small diamond crown, which she wore frequently during her later years. Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown