Queen Victoria’s enduring love for Prince Albert shown in final photos of consort from monarch’s own personal album
Unseen photos reveal the private lives of the royal family at Osborne House, Victoria's Isle of Wight retreat, Windsor Castle and Balmoral
A PRIVATE collection of photos that capture Queen Victoria and her beloved Prince Albert have been revealed.
Taken and assembled by the Monarch herself, the black and white snaps show the royals in a rare and personal light.
Many of the 85 photos between 1859 and 1863 are of Prince Albert, some just before his early death in December 1861 and their nine children.
Handwritten under some of the photos were captions and signatures of the Royals in them.
They were taken at the Royal residences Osborne House, Victoria's Isle of Wight retreat, Windsor Castle and Balmoral.
The love between first cousins Victoria and Albert was unmistakable, when the Prince died of typhoid fever she was distraught.
Shortly after his death she said: "My life as a happy one is ended. The world is gone for me."
Queen Victoria also became obsessed with collecting photos of Albert to help her to cope with the loss of her husband.
However, there were whispers that she had found new love with her servant John Brown.
Under a photo of the two of them, she wrote: "Perhaps never in history was there so strong and true an attachment, so warm and loving a friendship between the sovereign and servant.
"Strength of character as well as power of frame – the most fearless uprightness, kindness, sense of justice, honesty, independence and unselfishness combined with a tender, warm heart - made him one of the most remarkable men."
One poignant photo shows Victoria surrounded by her family planting a memorial tree for Albert at Windsor in 1862.
There are also tender photos of Victoria holding her youngest daughter Beatrice and granddaughter Victoria.
Victoria's love of photography, a passion she shared with Albert, stemmed from the very early days of the medium in the 1830s.
The album remained in the Royal Collection until the 1970s when it passed into the hands of a private collector who has now consigned it for sale with auctioneers Bonhams.
It is tipped to sell for £6,000.
Matthew Haley, director of books and manuscripts at Bonhams, said: "Queen Victoria was fascinated by photography which was still a relatively new technology and she was very aware of her public image so she allowed herself to be photographed often.
"Prince Albert shared this passion and they spent much time together assembling photograph albums - a hobby she turned to again in her widowhood to help allay her loneliness.
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"There are photos of all the prominent Royals including Victoria's children and grandchildren, as well as her royal servant John Brown.
"The present collection is especially valuable in that it bridges the period between 1859 – when Albert was still alive – and her widowhood in the 1860s."
The sale takes place on November 27.
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