Osborne House in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight is a former royal residence, now open to the public. Queen Victoria, England’s longest reigning monarch, once wrote about the area, “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot” and she made it her palace by the sea.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House and its estate from Lady Isabella Blachford in 1845. In 1848 they demolished the old three-storey Georgian home, as it was too small for their needs. In its place was built a new three-storey residence in the style of the Italian Renaissance, complete with two pseudo campanile towers and main and household wings.

The royal 19th century estate eventually totalled over 800 hectares (1000 acres) and included numerous cottages and lodges for workers and members of the household. It became the royal couple’s retreat, away from the pressures of court at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Following Prince Albert’s death, Queen Victoria spent most of her time at Osborne House and she died there in 1901. Since her death, little has changed at Osborne House and many of the royal couple’s possessions, photographs and paintings are still there.