This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. On this occasion, Buckingham Palace announced a special exhibition as part of its official opening this summer.
The exhibition will explore the life of the monarch and how she transformed the once-unloved palace into the royal residence we know today. Highlights include the portrait of the young Queen painted by Thomas Sully shortly after her move to her new home, as well as Victoria’s personal badge, the star and necklace of the Bath Order.
Victoria moved into the palace in 1837 when she was only 18 years old. It had been empty for seven years after the death of his uncle, George IV. After Victoria married Prince Albert and started a family, Victoria wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel about his plans to remodel his family home. She spoke of “the urgent need to do something in Buckingham Palace” and “the total lack of accommodation for our growing family,” according to the Royal Collection Trust.
Victoria later obtained £ 20,000 for the completion and expansion of the palace and, as the new exhibition points out, the royal couple turned their home into a place of entertainment and business.
The east wing, known today for its famous balcony, has been added to the front, enclosing what was previously an open courtyard. A new ballroom was also added to the reception halls, which allowed the queen to hold a series of costume balls. Victoria’s dress, designed for the Stuart Ball, is included in the exhibition, along with a sketch from the monarch’s diary showing Prince Albert in period costume.
The fascinating story of Victoria’s stay in the palace will begin July 20 as part of the Summer Rooms’ opening visit. It will close on September 29, 2019.
Queen Victoria’s exhibition at Buckingham Palace
A portrait of Queen Victoria by Thomas Sully
ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST / HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II 2019
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