What was Queen Victoria buried with? Sentimental items revealed
Funeral arrangements are underway following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 on Thursday, September 8.
The late monarch will be laid to rest next to her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, after her funeral ceremony on Monday.
Although the Queen had an expansive and enviable jewellery collection, experts believe that she will be buried with just ‘her simple Welsh gold wedding band to rest and a pair of pearl earrings’.
However, minimalism doesn’t seem to run in the family, as her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria was buried with a whole host of sentimental items.
But just what did the famous figurehead take to her grave?
What was Queen Victoria buried with?
From a cape with hidden meaning to a picture of a servant, these are the items that Queen Victoria requested to be buried with, according to British Heritage.
A cast of Prince Albert’s hand
Queen Victoria was famously besotted with her husband Prince Albert.
After he died in 1861, she mourned him by wearing black for the remaining 40 years of her life.
Her Majesty also requested a plaster cast of Prince Albert’s hand, which was created shortly after his death
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It is believed that the monarch slept with the hand at night, and so it is no surprise that she was buried with the plaster paw.
The royal coffin also included one of Albert’s dressing gowns.
A photo of John Brown
John Brown was Queen Victoria’s favourite servant for many years, championing his honesty and wit.
Her son, King Edward VII, wasn’t a fan of John’s forthright tongue and removed all mention of Brown at royal properties.
However, she took his memory to the grave in the form of a miniature portrait.
A cape
Queen Victoria had nine children in total – and Princess Alice was her clear favourite.
However, the Princess died aged 35 in 1878 from diphtheria. Following the death of her dear Prince Albert, the grief was unbearable for the Queen.
In memory of her daughter Alice, Her Majesty requested an elaborate cape the young Princess had made for Prince Albert should be buried with her.
Her wedding veil and rings
The Queen’s love for her late husband was unending, and so she requested that she be laid to rest with the lace wedding veil she wore at her wedding in 1840.
The veil was already 61 years old at the time of her death.
She also requested that the public not wear black in their mourning for her, instead preferring them to wear white.
Despite wearing black for many decades as she mourned her late husband, the Queen has a special spot for the colour white, and is credited for kickstarting the white wedding dress tradition.
Jewellery
The Queen requested that she be buried with as much of her jewellery as could fit on her body.
Thus, when she died, a ring was placed on every finger, her wrists were stacked with bracelets, and her neck wore layers and layers of necklaces.
A bouquet of Scottish heather
This was a nod to her beloved Scottish castle, Balmoral where she spent so much time.
Her great-great-grandaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, also has a floral ode to her beloved Balmoral.
A wreath consisting of dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather, and pine fir has been lain on top of her coffin.
The flowers were picked from the Balmoral Estate, the beloved Scottish residence where the Queen has spent summers throughout her life and where she died on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
When did Queen Victoria die?
Queen Victoria died at the age of 81 on January 22, 1901, at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, bringing the Victorian period came to an end.
Her reign lasted 64 years, which was then the longest reign in British history.
Four years prior, the monarch had written instructions for her funeral, which was to be military – a nod to being a soldier’s daughter and the head of the army.
The Queen’s funeral was held in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on February 2.
After two days of lying-in-state, she was interred beside Prince Albert in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore at Windsor Great Park.
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