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Sir James Reid -

Queen Victoria provided her personal physician, Sir James Reid, with a comprehensive list of burial instructions. She maintained utmost secrecy regarding the document, instructing him not to reveal it until after her death.

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Privacy and suspicion -

Queen Victoria had a difficult relationship with many people, including a few of her nine children. She had concerns that they would dispute and attempt to modify her final desires if they discovered them. Sir James Reid was entrusted with the task of meticulously executing her requests.

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Unusual requests -

Some of her more peculiar demands involved objects she desired to be placed in her coffin. Even after the burial, Reid kept some of these a secret, knowing that her children would have disapproved if they were aware of them.

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The flowers -

In order to hide certain controversial and unconventional objects, they filled her coffin with flowers and placed a bouquet in her hands. The florist appointed by royalty chose flowers from various corners of the globe, but Queen Victoria specifically instructed that sprigs of heather should be buried alongside her.

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Heather for John Brown -

Heather is a popular flower in Scotland, and there is a belief that this request was made to pay homage to her alleged Scottish lover, John Brown. In fact, she was buried with a photograph of him hidden in her hands.

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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert -

Queen Victoria, although rumored to have a private love affair with John Brown later in life, remained deeply committed to her late husband Prince Albert, who passed away four decades earlier. She specifically requested to be buried with a plaster cast of his hand, one of her cherished possessions.

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The plaster hand -

Following Prince Albert's passing, Queen Victoria experienced profound grief and struggled to come to terms with his death. She requested that his servants carry out his daily morning routine, ensuring his shaving kit and clothes were brought to his room, and that any unused items were taken away in the evening. Additionally, she had a plaster cast created of his hand, which she slept with every night.

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Victorian spiritualism -

Many people believe that Queen Victoria also had an interest in the occult during her time of grief, which was quite common then. Spiritual practices like seances, hypnotism, and crystal readings were widely embraced, blending religious and mystical beliefs in the Victorian era.

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Pendants -

From a young age, Queen Victoria wore a locket that contained a lock of her late father's hair. This simple keepsake provided her with a sense of connection to him. When she wed Prince Albert, she ensured a locket was crafted to hold his hair as well. In one of her funeral wishes, she requested to be laid to rest with a locket containing John Brown's hair, among her numerous other requests.

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Spirits and the afterlife -

Queen Victoria was known for her sentimental nature. Some people believed that keeping mementos like this could assist in reuniting their souls in the afterlife. Mediums frequently requested these items to establish a connection with the spirits of their beloved ones.

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Her two loves -

Queen Victoria appeared to have no reservations about including dedications to both her husband and alleged lover in her coffin. It seems she was determined to join them in the afterlife.

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Her two loves -

John Brown died in 1883, preceding Queen Victoria's own death by 18 years. It is speculated that she may have engaged in other romantic involvements post his demise, yet there is no doubt that Prince Albert was her truest love, and John Brown was rumored to be her second greatest affection.

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John Brown's mementos -

Queen Victoria's children were resentful of her relationship with John Brown and erased any trace of him from royal residences after her passing. However, Dr. Reid ensured that she was laid to rest with numerous keepsakes to remember him by.

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White or black -

Weddings have long been linked to white attire, while black is often associated with funerals. Queen Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert saw her wearing white, however, she is mostly remembered dressed in all black. The reason behind this perception is that the majority of photographs of her were captured after Albert's passing, during which she remained in a constant state of mourning.

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White or black -

Despite the customary black attire, she wished for her funeral to embrace a white theme. She was laid to rest adorned in a white gown and a bridal veil. This gesture is often perceived as a tribute to her marital bond and an indication of her enduring sorrow following her spouse's demise.

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The wedding rings -

Queen Victoria was laid to rest with two wedding rings as part of her funeral arrangement. One ring symbolized her marriage to Prince Albert, while the other was believed to be a tribute to John Brown.

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John Brown's ring -

According to reports, the ring she wore in honor of John Brown was said to be his mother's wedding ring, which he had inherited.

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Princess Alice -

Princess Alice, beloved daughter of Queen Victoria, enjoyed a strong bond with her parents. Devotedly nursing to her father's illness, she also compassionately assumed her mother's role after the loss, providing care and support during her time of sorrow.

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A sentimental gift -

Princess Alice crafted an embroidered cloak for Prince Albert, who proudly wore it for several years. Tragically, Alice succumbed to diphtheria at the age of 35 while nursing to soldiers during the Austro-Prussian War. Queen Victoria, recognizing its profound meaning, requested to be buried with the cherished cloak.

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The jewelry -

Ancient Egyptians buried their cherished belongings to accompany them in the afterlife. Queen Victoria might have shared a similar notion, as she wished to be interred with a considerable collection of valuable jewelry.

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The jewelry -

She was buried adorned with rings on all her fingers, numerous bracelets and necklaces, and brooches encrusted with precious stones. Each piece had significant sentimental meaning for her. Additionally, she grasped the plaster cast of Prince Albert's hand and a photograph of John Brown, managing to conceal them all beneath a bouquet of flowers.

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Prince Albert's robe -

Queen Victoria insisted that Prince Albert's dressing gown be left out for him every morning after his death. This apparently simple item held great importance to her, and it was one of the unique mementos buried with her.

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Prince Albert's robe -

There are those who hold the belief that Queen Victoria engaged in seances to communicate with the spirit of Prince Albert. It is said that she believed he had not truly departed, which may explain why she continued to provide for him as if he were still living.

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The coffin layout -

The coffin was prepared by placing a layer of charcoal at the bottom, known for its ability to absorb moisture and odors during decomposition. On top of the charcoal, Prince Albert's dressing gown was placed. Above the gown, Queen Victoria's body was carefully positioned, surrounded by her various belongings and possessions.

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The last request -

Just before her death, Queen Victoria had a simple request for her doctor - she wanted to see her beloved pet dog. Throughout her life, Queen Victoria had a deep affection for dogs, and her favorite companion in her final years was a Pomeranian named Turi. True to her final wish, Turi stayed by her side until her last breath, providing comfort during her final moments.

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Burial fit for royalty -

For Queen Victoria's funeral, she desired a ceremony befitting her status as a monarch. She had reigned for 61 years, a record-setting reign that was surpassed only in 2015 by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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A nontraditional military funeral -

Queen Victoria specifically requested that her funeral be conducted with full military honors. She made it known that she desired her equerries to serve as pallbearers, and her coffin was transported on a gun carriage as part of a grand military procession through the streets of London.

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Living and dying privately -

After the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria withdrew from public life and adopted a highly private lifestyle. Unlike typical monarch practices, she expressed a desire not to have her body displayed for public viewing.

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The final resting place -

She requested her coffin be taken directly to St. George's Chapel for her funeral, with only a brief two-day private viewing for her family. This decision was driven by valuable items concealed within her coffin, which she wanted to keep secret. She now rests in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore Estate in Windsor alongside her beloved Prince Albert. 

Sources: (History Collection) (Ripley's) (The Guardian)

See also: The royal weddings that changed European history

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