Osborne House, Queen Victoria and Albert's Holiday Home, is located on the Isle of Wight. A few years ago we had the pleasure of touring the home and grounds. It is such a lovely place, built in the style of an Italian villa and set in the midst of beautiful grounds.
Victoria and Albert bought Osborne House in 1845 as a retreat where they could leave the pressures of court life at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle and enjoy some privacy and seclusion from public life. After Albert died, Victoria spent most of her time at Osborne until her death in 1901. Little has changed at Osborne since her death and many of the royal couple's possessions, photographs and paintings are still at Osborne.
Archway leading into a "Secret Garden"
This was called 'Swiss Cottages", a royal playhouse for Victoria and Albert's nine children. It was also a place where the children were trained to do basic tasks expected of any average person. The girls were taught to cook and perform household duties, and the boys were instructed in carpentry and working the land.
Each child had their own little garden which they tended and were responsible for. They planted flowers, fruits and vegetables which were sold at market prices to Prince Albert for use in the royal household!
This was Queen Victoria's bathing machine - it was wheeled into the sea so the Queen could emerge directly into the water and begin swimming!
I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the Isle of Wight to include this in your plan of things to see. More information on Osborne House can be find here
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