British Expats - Postcards from England Chapter 3

Welcome to the magnificent Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favourite residence on the idyllic Isle of Wight Part Two !

Good evening dear Friends :)

I hope that you are very well.

I am inviting you today to a visit of the Royal Beach were Queen Victoria, Prince Albert & their 9 children used to swim and the Swiss Cottage were the young princes & princess used to play, sew, cook & garden which features today a collection of the gifts they received on their birthdays and other occasions.

Osborne House, located in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK, was the seaside retreat of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Prince Albert designed the house himself in conjunction with Thomas Cubitt, the London architect and builder, whose company also built the main faÃ§ade of Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Gardens at Osborne House Osborne House and gardens were originally designed by Prince Albert and Cubitt for the Royal Family.

On the path leading to the Royal Beach were magnificent rare & exotic trees planted by Prince Albert in the late 1840's to mark momentous family occasions.

The area where Osborne House is located today has been known as Osborne for over 1000 years, believed to be named after a nearby oyster bed.

The beach at Osborne was a place of great fun and relaxation for the royal family.

Nestled away on one of the islands many secluded bays, this sandy haven was the scene of many royal family days spent in the sun

Osborne Bay, once a shingles beach, was a favourite spot for the royal family, including Queen Victoria & Prince Albert's 9 children who all learned to swim and played in the crystal clear waters of the Solent.

Between 1853 and 1854, a Swiss Cottage was built in the grounds of Osborne House on the instruction of Prince Albert.

The Swiss Cottage was a place where the couple's 9 children could play at adult life, undertaking everyday activities such as cooking, sewing and gardening.

It also features the exquisite gifts Queen Victoria's Children received for their birthdays and other special occasions.

Each child was given a plot of land in the cottageâ€™s garden where they were encouraged to grow and sell fruit, vegetables and flowers :)

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

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