Tim shows us the extraordinary Chinese-style interior of the Royal Pavillion in Brighton and reveals how it was styled in this way thanks to one of Queen Victoria's predecessors. He also discovers that when Victoria wasn't in the mood for jolly times, or the garish interiors had got the better of her, she would retire to her own private apartments. Here the decor is much plainer than the rest of the house - possibly at her request.
Up Next in Royal Upstairs Downstairs
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Royal Upstairs Downstairs: Walmer
The visit got off to a bad start when the royal carriage got stuck in the archway and chaos ensued. Tim tells the story of how one morning the royal lovebirds slipped out of the castle with their favourite dogs and set off along the beach for a walk. A sudden squall forced them to seek shelter w...
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Royal Upstairs Downstairs: Wimpole
Queen Victoria visited Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire with Prince Albert in 1843. She was just 24 years old, but had already been Queen for 6 years. She writes in her diary that the crowds in Cambridge were awful.
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Royal Upstairs Downstairs: Belvoir
Queen Victoria’s advisers - the spin doctors of the day - thought that the sight of her handsome husband on horseback, hunting heroically with the famous Belvoir hunt, might help boost his image. So this notionally private visit was designed to have a public impact and Tim discovers if it worked.