Queen Victoria & Co.

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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert skating at Frogmore (print c.1880-1900)

We drove down to Frogmore & Albert pushed me in a sledge chair on the ice, which was delightful, & it went with such rapidity. I had never been on the ice before. I then walked up & down, whilst Albert & the others skated; & I watched them playing hockey. He had a fall but got up directly again. We came home at 2 & lunched at once.

- Queen Victoria’s journals, 30th December 1840

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[Albert] took me to his room, where he gave me a most lovely bracelet, with his dear picture, also after Thorburn beautifully enamelled, set with a replica in small of the Collar of the Order of the Garter, in enamel work. It is his own exquisite taste & one of the loveliest things I ever saw. How I shall value it, & what extreme pleasure it gives. I put it on at once, & it was much admired.

- Queen Victoria’s journal, 24th December 1844

Bracelet with gold knots (symbolising eternity and love), enameled York and Lancaster roses and a miniature watercolour portrait of Prince Albert in armour by William Essex (after the portrait by Robert Thorburn). Around the portrait and each of the roses is the blue ribbon of the Order of the Garter emblazoned in gold with the Order’s motto: “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (Shame on him who thinks ill of it).

Prince Albert designed this bracelet for Queen Victoria, basing the design on the collar of the Garter made for Victoria upon her accession in 1837. He presented it to his wife for Christmas in 1844.

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The Duchess of Kent’s Christmas Cards, 1854

Eine Kleine Weihnachtsgabe für ihr liebe Großmama von Vicky [A Small Christmas Gift to her Grandmother from Vicky]

For My dear Grandmama from her dutiful and affectionate Grand-daughter Alice. December 24th. 1854.

For My dearest Grandmama, from her dutiful and affectionate Helena. 24.th Dec.r1854.

A Ma chère Grandmaman de la part de son affectionnée petite-fille Louise 25 Decembre 1854. [To My dear Grandmama on the behalf of her affectionate granddaughter Louise 25 December 1854.]

(Royal Collection)

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Christmas Trees at Windsor Castle, 24th December 1850

Watercolours by James Roberts (Royal Collection)

At a little after 6 we all assembled & my beloved Albert 1rst took me to my tree & table, covered by such numberless gifts, really too much, too magnificent. I am delighted with the really splendid picture in water colours by Corbould, representing the famous scene at the Coronation in "Le Prophèti", — & a very pretty oil painting of "Faith" represented by a female figure & 2 angels by Mrs Richards, also a fine oil painting of "l'Allegro" & "Il Penseroso", by Horseley. The one present from dearest Albert, which is of infinite value to me is a miniature of my beloved Louise in a clasp to a bracelet, in dull, deepest blue enamel, with a black cross, the Cypher & stars in diamonds, all, dear Albert's own design & very lovely. I annex a sketch of it. I also received charming gifts from dear Mama. The 3 girls, all worked me something. The 7 Children were then taken to their tree, jumping & shouting with joy over their toys & other presents. The Boys could think of nothing but the swords we had given them & Bertie of some armour, which however he complained, pinched him! Mama had her tree & table in the same room, & Albert his, in the 3rd last room. Amongst my gifts was a painting by Landseer, as a pendant to his "Lassie", — a Highlander in a snow storm "on the Hall", with a dead eagle in one hand, & dog near him. The colouring is beautiful, & the whole thing is a "chef d' oeuvre". Dear Albert was kindly pleased with everything, but I felt it was so poor in comparison to what he had given me.

 - Queen Victoria’s Journal, 24th December 1850

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The Queen's Christmas Tree, Windsor Castle  (24th December 1857)  

photograph by Ernst Becker 

(Royal Collection)

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Christmas passes too quickly. It is so long looked forward to & anxiously prepared for, & in a moment it is past!

Queen Victoria’s Diary, 25th December 1852

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Queen Victoria’s Christmases

Before the reign of Queen Victoria, Christmas as we know it today did not exist. Parties on Twelfth Night were more common than on Christmas Day and Christmas itself was in decline.

The reinvention of Christmas owes a great deal to the Victorian Era, far more than any other time in our history. Victoria and Albert’s family Christmases were published in newspapers for the public to see, spreading the popularity of their German-influenced celebrations. Articles were illustrated with drawings of their enormous roast meats, plum puddings, and most famously, their Christmas tree.

Three years after Albert’s death, in 1864, Victoria mournfully reminisced about her family Christmases in her happier days. Christmas Day back then would have typically began with a family breakfast, then leading the younger children into the ‘present room’ where they were allowed to chose one toy. The family would then attend church (or chapel, depending on where they were spending Christmas) and sing hymns and carols. The family might then go out for a walk, or Prince Albert might take Victoria for a drive, before returning to see the Christmas tree lit and go to dinner. The evening would end with charades, games and plays.

The last Christmas of Victoria’s reign was a quiet, sad affair at Osborne House. Victoria at this time was 81 years old, almost blind and heavily obese. Only a few weeks later, Victoria would die and the Victorian Age would come to its end. A close friend and lady of the bedchamber from her younger days, Jane Spencer, passed away that day, deeply upsetting Victoria. She spent that afternoon at a small ceremony for Jane, rather than celebrating before going to bed. As she herself wrote ‘This has indeed been a terribly sad Christmas for us all!’.

Despite this, the happy Christmas culture and traditions we know and love today would have not been developed without the family, German-influenced Christmases of Victoria and Albert all those years ago.

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November 21, 1840 – Birth of Victoria Princess Royal

“I am taking up my Journal again, which was interrupted by my confinement, & am writing, as well as I can, from memory & short notes. — Just before the early hours of the morning of the 21rst. I felt very uncomfortable & with difficulty aroused Albert from his sleep, who after a while, got Clark sent for. He came at ½ p. 2, Albert bringing him into the Bedroom. Clark said he would go to Lucock. Tried to get to sleep again, but by 4, I got very bad and both the Doctors arrived. My beloved Albert was so dear & kind. Lucock said the Baby was on the way & everything was all right. We both expressed joy that the event was at hand, & I did not feel at all nervous. After a good many hours suffering, a perfect little child was born at 2 in the afternoon, but alas! a girl & not a boy, as we both had so hoped & wished for. We were, I am afraid, sadly disappointed, but yet our hearts were full of gratitude, for God having brought me.” Queen Victoria Journal Entry, Tuesday 1st December 1840.

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21st November 1840 - Birth of Victoria, Princess Royal

Just before the early hours of the morning of the 21rst I felt very uncomfortable & with difficulty aroused Albert from his sleep, who after a while, got [Dr] Clark sent for. He came at ½ p. 2, Albertbringing him into the Bedroom. Clark said he would go to [Dr] Lucock. Tried to get to sleep again, but by 4, I got very bad and both the Doctors arrived. My beloved Albert was so dear & kind. Lucock said the Baby was on the way & everything was all right. We both expressed joy that the event was at hand, & I did not feel at all nervous. After a good many hours suffering, a perfect little child was born at 2 in the afternoon, but alas! a girl & not a boy, as we both had so hoped & wished for. We were, I am afraid, sadly disappointed, but yet our hearts were full of gratitude, for God having brought me safely through my ordeal, & having such a strong, healthy child. Dearest Albert hardly left me at all, & was the greatest support & comfort. [...] Albert had a late, hurried luncheon, & went to the [Privy] Council at 4. I felt quite well & without a pain of any kind. Had some food & then, a good long sleep. I awoke on the 22nd, having slept admirably & felt as well as if nothing had happened. [...] The dear little Baby was brought in to me several times & she was seen by numbers of people, Albert showing her.

- Queen Victoria’s Journal, 1st December 1840

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Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and Princess Victoria - “Entente Cordiale”, 2x05

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Found this lithograph in the British Library collection and was instantly reminded of this promotional picture for Victoria. A possible inspiration for costume design and staging?

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The Prince of Wales

Etching of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales with a rabbit by his father, Prince Albert. Signed “Albert after W[illiam] Ross 1846″.

(Royal Collection)

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Close enough.

(source: The Times-Picayune, March 23, 1839.)

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Buckingham Palace, Grand Entrance & Marble Hall.

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Dress worn by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (c. 1843)

Child’s white silk dress with sash, possibly the same one worn by the Prince of Wales in the 1843 portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. Queen Victoria described Winterhalter’s portrait as ‘the most spirited & beautiful likeness of the Boy, imaginable.’

(V&A; Royal Collection)

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Hand-tinted stereoscopic daguerreotype of Queen Victoria, 1854. {x}  

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♕ November 9, 1841 – Birth of King Edward VII

The second child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was born on 9 November 1841. Post-natal depression made it hard for Victoria to bond with her new son, Bertie’s birth had been difficul. The new baby was named Albert Edward : Albert after his father and Edward in memory of Victoria’s father, the Duke of Kent. Victoria referred to the child as ’the Boy’. When he was eighteen months old she wrote ’ I do not think him worthy of being called Albert yet ’. He never was. Instead, everyone called him Bertie. { Bertie, a ife of Edward VII }

His life would have been easier,in childhood and beyond, if he had been more like his father. But the rigorous, intellectual regime Prince Albert had designed for him was totally unsuitable : The Prince of Wales was a ‘people’ person who thrived on friendship and society. His father failed to understand the potential in this, so too did his mother, who feared the likeness she sensed between her eldest son and her Hanover uncles. She refused to allow her son access to affairs of State, forcing him to develop a role for himself, which in time he did, with considerable success. { Queen Victoria’s family, Zeepvat }

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The new baby was named Albert Edward: Albert, after his father, and Edward in memory of Victoria’s father, the Duke of Kent. The name Albert pleased no one. Lord Melbourne politely harrumphed that although it was an Anglo-Saxon name, it had not been much in use since the Norman conquest; while Albert’s dreadful father, Ernest of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, objected that the prince was not named after him. Victoria referred to the child as ‘the Boy’. When he was eighteen months old she wrote, ‘I do not think him worthy of being called Albert yet.’ He never was. Instead, everyone called him Bertie.

- Jane Ridley, Bertie: A Life of Edward VII

Albert Edward, b. 9th November 1841

Edward VII, r. 22nd January 1901 - 6th May 1910