Queen Victoria's Birthday 24 May 1819, 201 Years ago

Today, 24 May, marks the 201st anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth in 1819 to Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent who was the 4th son of King George III and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg.

The above portrait is in The Royal Collection Trust, and depicts Alexandrina Victoria at age 2.

 

Victoria became queen in 1837 at the age of 18... 

The above portrait from a newspaper when she attended the theatre at Drury Lane 

Victoria by American artist Thomas Sully shows Victoria in the year following her accession 

At her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840

Upon the death of her beloved Albert in 1861, the queen began mourning that rather than ending in one year which was the normal custom was continued for the rest of her life until her death in 1901.

Memorial pair of dishes from 1861...

Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee of 50 years in 1887...

And her Diamond Jubilee of 60 years reign in 1897... 

and gave her name to an entire era of history, style, innovation, literature and morality... both for good and bad...

a lasting legacy...

Nov. 14 Prince Charles' Birthday, 1940 Anniversary of Bombing of Coventry, THANKFUL Sale

 Happy Birthday to Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall!

Born November 14, 1948

And also on November 14th...

 The nave at Coventry Cathedral, before and after November 14, 1940...

The 70th anniversary of the Nazi blitz on the town of Coventry, England was marked today. A horrible day during World War II for the family of my husband, living in Birmingham, England 20 miles away. Along with his younger sister, he was not evacuated to Wales for safety with his 2 older sisters. His oldest brother was serving in the Coldstream Guards.

The bombing was remembered as horrific and John often wonders how his parents coped with the terrors of war  and just trying to feed the family between times spent in the bomb shelter at the end of the garden.  Coventry was a strategic site for the bombers because of it's heavy industrial plants and rail interchanges. Over 1200 people were killed and most of the city was destroyed. John's father and brother who was on a short leave had walked to the bridge over the railroad bridge close to their home and watched the planes dropping their payloads and the subsequent explosions and fireballs.

As they stood there watching, John's father Sam thought he hear Annie his wife calling him so they left the railroad bridge and started quickly home. A few minutes later the railroad bridge went up in an explosion as it, too was bombed. Annie hadn't called, but if they had stayed they would have gone up in the explosion. 

story at the BBC of the anniversary of the Coventry bombing Nov. 14, 1940

Thousands were killed, much of the city was destroyed....
I can't imagine what living through it was like... but the BBC has an interesting webpage with recordings and accounts of what it was like...

BBC: What was it like living through the Coventry Blitz Timeline

From World War II era, this is a handmade silk... parachute silk, probably, embroidered RAF tea cozy from Time Was Antiques .

For more info, click on the photo.

And... our THANKFUL 15% Off coupon code sale
ON NOW!

 

Happy Birthday Tower Bridge!

June 30, 1894, Tower Bridge in London was opened...

truly an engineering marvel...

an iconic landmark.  Here are several photos from a couple of visits, including some taken from the Thames from a lunch/sightseeing cruise we did...

One visit we took the Tower Bridge Experience which takes you inside to see how the bridge decks are opened using the gigantic cantilevered bascules.  When the bridge was opened, it was an architectural and engineering marvel...and it still is!

You enter from the Southwark side and if you go, be prepared for lots of stairs, or long elevator waits. But it is fascinating! 

Tower Bridge was designed to blend in architecturally with the MUCH older Tower of London and I think it's a wonderful accompaniment!  

So happy birthday Tower Bridge!

Queen Victoria's Birthday, Windsor Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Happy Birthday Queen Victoria! Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 so tomorrow is her birthday! She lived until 1901 and was the longest reigning monarch...until our current Queen Elizabeth II who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee year of 60 years' reign this year.

This wonderful portrait was painted by Winterhalter in 1842. I love the meticulous lace. We are all more familiar with photos like this as she went into mourning on the death of her beloved husband Prince Albert and remained in mourning until her death.

 Her birthday was remembered in Canada this past weekend with the Victoria Day celebrations. The celebrations were also linked this year to Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

This last weekend was also the opening salve for the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations with a Royal party for Windsor Castle, the Queen's favorite home. There was an armed forces Muster, Fly By, massed Queen's Guard Unit parade and bands and other festivities including a Windsor High Street walk about for the city residents.

There are Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters at Windsor as well.

As the Navy passes by, they are viewed by military pensioners who live in the area.

I especially loved the manuever of a fly by with planes in the formation of E II R and also in the number 60. The colored trails are so cool as well!
 

This is the massed Queen's Guards regiments which includes the Coldstream Guards, my husbands old regiment. He was quire teary as we watched the YouTube video below of the fly by.
 

 all photos from The Mail Online

I am quite excited about the main Diamond Jubilee celebrations on the weekend of June 2nd. I'll tell you more about them soon.

Here is a YouTube video of the Diamond Jubilee Fly By at Windsor. Enjoy!