What was put in the coffin of Queen Victoria: Prince Albert's hand, a sprig of heather and other things from the secret funeral list

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

Queen Victoria has lived a very stormy and interesting life, full not only of crucial moments, but of love and intrigue. This woman always knew what she wanted and what she needed, even though some of her children did not very much share her views and interests. She was so far-sighted that she foreseen in advance the items related to things that must have been placed in her coffin.

At the end of her life, Victoria, having summoned her faithful assistant, dictated to her a number of points related to the funeral. The maid of honor then handed the notes over to the Queen's personal physician, Sir James Reid. According to writer Tony Rennell, a descendant of the Reed family wrote a book about the doctor and his famous patient, but the contents of the secret instructions were banned by the censorship of King's College.

When Rennell, who was also writing a book on Victoria's final years, was invited by the Reed family to investigate their archives, he came across hidden instructions written shortly before the old queen's death. He was able to successfully publish his research, and for the first time, Victoria's last wishes came to light.

1. A cast of the hand of Prince Albert

Perhaps one of the first and main items on Victoria's list was the desire to be buried with a cast of Prince Albert's hand, which was made of plaster immediately after he passed away. After the sudden death of her beloved spouse, Victoria was devastated and her grief had a profound impact on mourning people throughout the Western world in the era that still bears her name.

But that was not all. For years after his death, she forced Albert's former servants to perform morning rituals. Servants brought hot water, a shaving brush, a cup, and towels into his room every morning. His valet also continued to bring the costume that he would wear that day. At the end of the day, the servants came back and put things away, but the next day everything was repeated.

Victoria kept her own bedroom, draped in black and adorned with portraits and photographs of Albert throughout, and she fell asleep every night with his plaster hand.

2. Wedding veil and white clothes

The second point of the secret instructions was that all those present at the Queen's funeral should be dressed exclusively in white clothes.

She also included a clause detailing that she wished to be buried in a snow-white veil left over from her wedding with Prince Albert.

Victoria believed and believed that in this way she would be able to reunite with her deceased husband in heaven, becoming his companion for centuries.

In addition, even in ordinary life, she remained tied to her veil and dress, and she and Albert posed in their wedding dresses, years after the wedding.

3. Another ring

Despite the fact that Victoria's family knew that the queen wanted to be buried with a wedding ring, few people guessed what kind of ring was in question. The only people privy to this secret were the maid of honor Victoria, as well as her attending physician, who spent most of his time with the queen, courting her. This ring was donated to her not by her husband, but by another person with whom she communicated for forty years after the death of her husband.

Her relationship with the Scotsman John Brown, who was a servant and her favorite, caused a lot of controversy and prejudice, especially in the British royal family. John was the only person who got away with almost everything, including criticism of the Queen. On top of that, he could afford to talk to her in a friendly tone, not in the least embarrassed about it. For over a century, historians have puzzled over the strange relationship between Victoria and John, and in recent years they have taken a more realistic, humane approach.

The writer Tony Rennell was the historian who finally shed light on the history of the second wedding ring, and more recently the historian A. N. Wilson has convincingly proved that Victoria and Brown did have a romantic relationship, but they never ended. According to Wilson, they slept in the same bed, hugging each other. He also points to the dying confession of a Scottish priest, who confessed to having secretly married the two.

4. Jewelry and other trinkets

Her custom-made coffin was almost filled to the brim with various things before she was placed in it. At the very bottom of the coffin was a uniform layer of charcoal, which served as a sorbent, absorbing unpleasant odors and moisture emanating from the dead. On top of the coal lay one of the late Albert's robes. Among other things were books, photographs, jewelry and various trinkets that Victoria held so dear.

The Queen's hands were decorated with rings and bracelets, a medallion was adorned on her neck, and the final stage was the plaster hand of Prince Albert and the snow-white Victoria veil.

5. Fresh flowers and a sprig of heather

Despite the fact that Victoria died in the middle of winter, the funeral service, as well as relatives, managed to acquire fresh flowers, which were collected not only throughout Great Britain, but also in European cities.

The hyacinths, placed in the coffin by his daughter-in-law, helped Sir James Reid disguise Victoria's left hand, on whose ring finger was an engagement ring, once presented by her friend and favorite.

Also, a sprig of flowering heather (the symbol of Scotland) was placed over the body of the deceased, which served as a reverent reminder of the old days spent with the family and, of course, with the man who supported her for many years after the death of her husband.

6. Cloak of Prince Albert

The luxurious and richly embroidered men's cloak that belonged to her late husband looked no less touching. The cloak was presented to Prince Albert by Princess Alice, who sewed it herself. And it is not at all surprising that the father proudly carried his daughter's gift. In addition, this cloak was not only a reminder of his beloved wife Victoria, but also of the beloved Alice, who, unfortunately, also died.

7. Tombstone sculpture

Victoria was buried in a luxurious mausoleum, which was built at her request many years ago. After the death of her husband, the queen ordered a life-size sculpture of the resting Albert, bowing his head to the sculpture of his wife, which after her death was to be installed on the sarcophagus.

Her own, corresponding statue was placed in safe custody to be displayed after her own death. Victoria in the marble rest appears exactly as she imagined herself even at the very end: young and in love. However, when she died forty years after Albert, the statue could not be found immediately, since they forgot where it was hidden. Thus, Victoria was originally buried without a statue, and it took several months before she was found boarded up behind a wall at Windsor Castle.

8. Accompanying persons

Victoria even planned in advance who exactly would "escort" her to her last refuge. Once the doctor and secretary had placed most of the belongings in the coffin, several family members and servants gathered to move her body from bed to coffin. A doctor and a woman secretary (chief maid of honor) stood at her head. On one side of her body was her son and heir, the new King Edward VII, her grandson, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, and another of her sons, Arthur, Duke of Connaught. On the other side of her body were the three most devoted servants.

After the body was placed in the coffin, the relatives and servants left the room and Reed was able to fulfill the queen's last request. He put John's ring on the ring finger of his left hand and placed in the same hand a photograph of her Scottish companion, as well as a lock of hair. Then the coffin was sealed and the queen's secrets remained intact.

P. S

James served as the Queen's chief physician for fifteen years and was devoted to her until the end of her days. He is the only one who managed to preserve Victoria's secret instructions, which to this day are in the possession of his descendants, which makes the royal family not particularly enthusiastic. The late Princess Margaret reportedly publicly demanded that members of the Reed family return what rightfully belonged to the royal family, but her demands were unsuccessful, and the list remained in the archives of the Reed family.

And in continuation of the topic, read also about what were the funeral rites in Russia and why some of them are still surprising.