What does the favorite residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the island look like today: Osborne House

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The place that was once a warm and luxurious home for Queen Victoria and her husband Albert is today a true masterpiece of architectural art. Having survived many historical events and vicissitudes, it is a kind of tribute to the memory of the Queen, her husband and family, which is visited not only by tourists, but even by the closest relatives of the British crown. What is it about him and what is Osborne House known for?

Victoria and Albert were a cousin and a sister, but hardly communicated in childhood. Despite the fact that they briefly met at Victoria's 17th birthday celebrations in 1836, none of them made the proper impression on each other. But in 1839, Victoria fell in love with Albert, meeting him at Windsor Castle, ruffled and blown by the winds after a long journey to England. Victoria's life was controlled by her power-hungry mother as a child. Forced to sleep in the queen's room and practically imprisoned, Victoria, ascending the throne in 1837, feared to weaken the power she had received thanks to her mother.

Albert also experienced an unhappy childhood, spent in complete seclusion with his older brother Ernest in Coburg after his mother was expelled from the palace for adultery.

But despite her initial doubts, and perhaps deciding that marriage was preferable to staying with her mother, Victoria proposed to Albert five days after their second meeting. The couple were married at St James's Palace on February 10, 1840.

Albert and Victoria's relationship was complicated. Albert's initial status meant that he was not the wealthiest and wealthiest relative. But Albert was not particularly interested in titles and status - he was looking for real power and a chance to rule. Victoria had conflicting feelings about her husband's ambitions. On the one hand, she adored Albert, recognizing him as her intellectual superiority and encouraging his ideas. But she also had an incredibly strong sense of her own inheritance. She wanted to share power with Albert, but did not want to give it up completely.

The dilemma was resolved in short order when Victoria became pregnant within months of her wedding. Since the queen was pregnant and needed special care and rest, the power passed to Albert.

And then the story of their life began to resemble shots from a film filled with a whirlpool of events, where everything was: feelings, love, passion and attempts to escape in order to retire from the whole world. Where there was silence, peace, sun, warm sand and gentle waves …

Osborne House is the former residence of the British royal family on the Isle of Wight, England. It is located southeast of Coase and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight.

The estate, consisting of more than three hundred hectares, was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845 and subsequently increased to two thousand hectares. They demolished the existing house to create their own family nest, where children could visit her and Albert at any time of the day or night without feeling that they were invading someone else's property. Victoria felt calm and at ease at Osborne House. She could relax, unburdened by her duties in London, and spend time with her family, enjoying every moment.

The current home was built in 1851 by Thomas Cubit according to a plan drawn up by Prince Albert. This Seaside Refuge was built in the Italian style, influenced by Albert's trip to the Gulf of Naples in 1839. He wanted the palace to reflect the warm climate and match his idea of island life. Wide terraces, traditional Italian gardens and scenic ocean views make it the perfect place to unwind.

Osborne House is not only inspired by Italian design. The title of Queen Victoria, Empress of India, influenced the unique style of the Durbar wing. This stately part of the building was used to receive guests and house the family of the Queen's youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice. Its wealth is breathtaking, especially the intricate stucco and decorative fireplace.

While the exterior of Osborne, built in an Italian palazzo style, cannot fail to impress, but it is the interior of the house that most reveals the tastes and attitudes of the royal couple: from how the house was managed to the image they wanted to convey to the wider world. …

The golden living room with marble columns, full-length mirrors and crystal chandeliers tells the story of the Queen's receptions and more. Guests of the royal family were received in the luxurious surroundings of the Golden Lounge, and Victoria could retire here in the afternoon to read, play cards, sing or play the piano. Next door, in the ceremonial dining room, there are family portraits on the walls - a reminder, if required, that Victoria was the "Grandmother of Europe."

The death of Prince Albert deeply shocked the queen. She is said to have held Ouija sessions at Osborne House to try and get in touch with her husband from the other world. She even obsessively ordered the servants at home to spread clothes in his room and provide hot water for bathing, as if he was still there.

Queen Victoria spent more and more time at Osborne House to feel closer to her late husband. Who knows, maybe she thought she was wandering the corridors with the ghost of her lover? And maybe if you walk through the same quiet places, you can feel his unobtrusive presence …

During the last years of her life, many additions were made to the estate, including a Museum, a private chapel, a dormitory for male servants and an additional wing that housed a large reception room and private quarters for the Queen's daughter Princess Beatrice and her family.

Osborne was privately owned by the Queen and therefore not subject to government control. Victoria died there on January 22, 1901, and after her death, it was taken over by King Edward VII of the Nation and used as a naval educational institution until 1921, when it was converted into a home for convalescent officers. The Queen's State Apartments and Private Apartments were opened to the public in 1956.

The English Heritage Agency took over the management of the estate in 1986. Since then, Osborne House has been extensively renovated and rebuilt. Queen Victoria's private beach was opened to the public in 2012. The road to Osborne Beach leads straight to a place called Bathing Machine, it was there that Victoria, unnoticed by others, changed into a bathing suit before plunging into the water. Nowadays, it is the perfect place to enjoy ice cream in the summer and take a break from the pesky heat in the foamy waves of the ocean.

And in 2014, a multimillion-dollar project was completed to preserve a Swiss cottage tucked away in sprawling gardens, a chalet that served as a private sanctuary for Victoria's children. The Swiss Cottage was built to educate and entertain the nine children of Victoria and Albert. Here the children learned how to bake and cook using ingredients grown in the garden of the estate. The use of the cottage suggests that a comprehensive education was an important aspect of the lives of the royal children.

Victoria and Albert seemed worried that their offspring would be overly spoiled, and therefore encouraged them to learn the practical day-to-day skills of the people they controlled. But despite all the severity, the children were spoiled from time to time with treats and gifts, forgiving little pranks. There are many paths that will lead the traveler to the secret places explored by the royal children. In the colorful gardens, hidden alcoves can be found, used by the queen herself for a moment's contemplation in the tranquil ambiance of island life.

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