Homing in on perfect pad
Long to reign over us? 5ft-tall Victoria’s dresses on show
Jewels on display, and Victoria with Albert TINY dresses handmade for diminutive Queen Victoria are to go on display to celebrate the 200th anniversary of her birth this year.
A special exhibition will tell the story of how the young monarch, who ascended to the throne on June 20, 1837,
aged just 18, transformed Buckingham Palace into “the centre of the social, cultural and official life of the country”.
Victoria’s outspoken nature belied her tiny stature as she was barely 5ft tall, although in later life developed an impressive girth before she died aged 81.
Actress Jenna Coleman, 32, who plays her in ITV drama Victoria, is 5ft 2in. Visitors will learn how she added the famous balcony and grand ballroom, which was used to stage elaborate costume balls.
Guests were encouraged to commission costumes to give work to silk weavers. The Stuart Ball of 1851 had
DRAMA Jenna as Victoria Her Stuart Ball frock guests dressed in the style of Charles II’s court. Her dress on display is made of grey moire trimmed with gold lace. ■ Queen Victoria’s Palace will run from July 20 to September 29 at Buckingham Palace. THE average adult would be willing to pay more than £335,000 for their ‘for ever home’, a study said.
Their first step is often with a two-bedroom semidetached house.
They then upgrade to a three-bedroom home in which they hope to remain, said the poll for Swinton Insurance.
Swinton’s Angela Bowden said: “Everyone has dreams of what their ‘forever home’ could look like. Our home is the our most important purchase.”