My diamond jubilee party – Victoria in own words

AN EXQUISITE Faberge notebook in which Queen Victoria recorded her diamond jubilee celebrations is to go on public display.

The book, signed and dated by the monarch, has signatures of guests who attended dinner the evening before the jubilee commemoration of 22 June, 1897.

Crowned heads of Europe are included among the guests, and Queen Victoria, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, later described the evening in her journal.

She wrote: “The dinner was in the Supper Room. All the family, foreign Royalties, special Ambassadors & Envoys were invited. I sat between the Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand & the Pce of Naples.”

The notebook, made by Russian jeweller Carl Faberge, will go on display in the Treasures from the Queen’s Palaces exhibition at the Queens Gallery in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, from 16 March.

It is one of about 20 pieces of Faberge works in the exhibition, which marks the Queen’s own diamond jubilee this year.

Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II are the only two sovereigns in the history of the British monarchy to have reached the 60-year milestone.

The exhibition will feature a total of 100 paintings, drawings, miniatures, manuscripts, furniture, ceramics and items of jewellery from nine royal residencies.

Many of the items will be shown in Scotland for the first time.