The exhibition, opening in May 2019, will be hosted within Kensington Palace to mark the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth.
Using research from curators at Historic Royal Palaces, the suite of rooms that Victoria and her mother occupied will be recreated as part of a walk-through exhibition exploring her royal childhood.
Also showcased will be objects relating to Victoria’s early years, including a scrapbook of mementos created by her German governess which will be on public display for the first time.
The young Victoria route
A specially designed route through a series of transformed rooms, including a dining room that has been converted back into the birthing room it once was, will allow visitors to follow Victoria’s journey from princess to monarch.
Interactive displays and interpretations will help to bring history to life, in the very rooms it took place in, with displays further helping to highlight the struggles Victoria endured and how she escaped isolation via story writing, doll making and drawing.
Polly Putnam, exhibition curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “Although considered one of the most famous women in history, Queen Victoria’s personality, passions and politics remain little known.
“To mark the 200th anniversary of her birth at Kensington Palace, in 2019 we’ll be re-examining the life of this fascinating and contradictory monarch, whose cultural legacy and impact on world affairs are still felt to this day.”
The palace’s Pigott Gallery exhibition
Meanwhile, an exhibition held in the palace’s Pigott Gallery will look at the woman behind the crown and will explore Victoria’s later life and legacy.
Rare surviving pieces of her private wardrobe will be on display for the first time. Items will include a simple cotton petticoat, dated to around the time of her marriage, and a pair of silver boots.
The exhibition will explore Victoria’s public image, and her life following the death of Prince Albert.
Both the exhibition and the young Victoria route will be included in standard admission to Kensington Palace, and free for Historic Royal Palaces and National Art Pass members.
Group benefits
Visiting groups can benefit from easy admission, plus discounts and voucher schemes for groups of 15 or more. Trips must be booked in advance, with coach drivers and Blue Badge guides admitted free.
For more information on visiting Kensington Palace, visit www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/visit/group-visits/#gs.Vzf5Pmk.
Image: Queen Victoria 1899 (Photo Credit: Historic Royal Palaces)
