Today, 22nd January, is the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s death.
As everyone living on the Isle of Wight knows, Queen Victoria spent a lot of time at Osborne House, the holiday home on her private estate in East Cowes.
It was at Osborne House in 1901 that Queen Victoria died, aged 81. She was the longest serving female monarch in history and survived her husband (who was also her first cousin), Prince Albert, by 40 years.
“We are not amused”
Apparently, there is no direct evidence that the most well-used remark attributed to Queen Victoria, “We are not amused”, was ever said by her.
In fact, it’s recorded by her staff and family that she was very often “immensely amused and roared with laughter”.
Special edition of the Illustrated London News
A collection of Illustrated London New‘s articles and covers held online has a great entry for a special edition illustrating the funeral procession.
It says,
It illustrates the funeral procession from Osborne; the embarkation at Cowes; the voyage of the ‘Alberta’ thence to Portsmouth; the arrival at Victoria Station; the procession through London; the arrival of the bier at Paddington Station; the procession through Windsor and the service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.
The cover, in purple, shows mourners from all walks of life and from all corners of the Empire standing in silent prayer before a wreath-strewn catafalque which is draped with flags and surmounted by a cushion on which lie the royal crown and sceptre. A grieving Britannia sits on the steps at the left near the group of royal mourners.
Osborne House is now owned by English Heritage and open to the public.
Image: Zyllan Fotografia under CC BY 2.0
