First Published in 1980 Victoria and Albert at Home describes the sitting, construction, and decorating of the two royal residences at Osborne and Balmoral and paints a memorable portrait of the Queen’s family and her Court beside the Solent and the Dee. At the time of their marriage the royal couple had the use of many crown properties, but, except for Windsor Castle, they found none to their taste and began to look for a home of their own. Sir Robert Peel found them an estate on the Isle of Wight, which was peaceful, beautiful, and at that time sufficiently remote from London. However, when access from London became swifter and easier, their privacy was lost, and they looked elsewhere for a second private family residence. A small estate in Scotland was recommended and Prince Albert once again designed the house, this time in Scottish baronial style. Drawing on memories, archives, and family papers, some of which, with a number of illustrations, have never been published before, Tyler Whittle has written an interesting, entertaining, and vivid account of life at a time so very much more elegant and yet, at the same time, so very much robust than anything that can be imagined today. This is a must read for students and scholars of British history, and Royal history.

Tales of the botanist explorers who enriched our gardens.