Victoria Revealed at Kensington Palace

Discover the life and reign of Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace in London.

Victoria Revealed at Kensington Palace

A new permanent exhibition at Kensington Palace, Victoria Revealed explores the life of one of the palace's most famous residents: Queen Victoria.

The exhibition coincides with the reopening of Kensington Palace following a £12m transformation in time for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Games.

Until this year, Queen Victoria was the only British monarch to have had a Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the throne in 1897.

Queen Victoria and Kensington Palace

Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace and spent her childhood there. She was informed of the death of her uncle, King William IV, at the palace and became Queen.

Victoria first set eyes on her beloved Prince Albert at Kensington Palace, and it was Victoria who first opened the palace to the public in 1899.

Highlights of Victoria Revealed

Inspired by Queen Victoria's personal journals and correspondence, Victoria Revealed gives an intimate account of her life.

Personal objects are displayed alongside paintings, sculpture, jewellery, clothing and historical artefacts. Highlights include:

• Victoria's black silk baby shoes
• A collection of her toys
• The first document she approved as monarch, signed Victoria R
• Music composed by Albert for Victoria during their engagement
• Her wedding dress (displayed for the first time in a decade)
• Sketches Victoria and Albert made of one another during the first year of their marriage
• Toys and clothing belonging to their nine children
• Mourning clothes worn after Albert's death in 1861
• Archive footage of Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations