What do you think?
Rate this book
Curtain Down at Her Majesty's: The Death of Queen Victoria in the Words of Those Who Were There
She was the most powerful woman in the world. Victoria had ruled through more than six decades, watching her kingdom spread to become the world's biggest empire and witnessing massive change in society and leaps forward in technology. Many of her people had known no other monarch. It is little surprise, then, that her death resulted in chaos, shock and mass outpourings of grief across the world. Here author and researcher Stewart Richards has delved through the archives to put together the definitive view of Victoria in her drawn-out final days of illness, through the immediate reaction to and aftermath of her death, to the state funeral on 2 February 1901. Based entirely on fascinating first-hand accounts, Curtain Down at Her Majesty's offers a remarkable insight into the events of those tumultuous few days, and a truly unique perspective on the life and impact of one of history's great monarchs.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2018
15 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 27, 2023
⭐️ 3.5/4 stars ⭐️
May 27, 2019
Curtains Down at her Majesty’s is a fascinating and factual account of the days preceding the death of Queen Victoria and the days of mourning and the funeral that followed.
This isn’t a work of fiction. Author Stewart Richards has meticulously gone through diary entries, letters, telegrams, newspaper articles of the people who were there: Queen Victoria’s family, her physicians and her subjects.
What is revealed is how the pomp and ceremony surrounding royal deaths is conducted and it gives insight in how the current monarchy was created.
A truly fascinating read for those who love the Victorian era and the monarchy.
Curtains Down at her Majesty’s – The Death of Queen Victoria in the Words of Those Who Were There by Stewart Richards is available now.
This isn’t a work of fiction. Author Stewart Richards has meticulously gone through diary entries, letters, telegrams, newspaper articles of the people who were there: Queen Victoria’s family, her physicians and her subjects.
What is revealed is how the pomp and ceremony surrounding royal deaths is conducted and it gives insight in how the current monarchy was created.
A truly fascinating read for those who love the Victorian era and the monarchy.
Curtains Down at her Majesty’s – The Death of Queen Victoria in the Words of Those Who Were There by Stewart Richards is available now.
January 7, 2020
A good book about an every-day, though historical, event.
I thought the book was well-written and very interesting. I think some of the information referenced in the citations at the end of each chapter would have been better written directly into the text. Also, Prince Alexei was left off of the list of the children of Nicholas and Alexandra.
I thought the book was well-written and very interesting. I think some of the information referenced in the citations at the end of each chapter would have been better written directly into the text. Also, Prince Alexei was left off of the list of the children of Nicholas and Alexandra.
November 2, 2021
Was an eye opener to read everyone's accounts of her death and the lead up to her funeral, To read also Queen Victoria's requests for when she died and what was to be put in the coffin with her.It showed she was very family orientated and still had a great love for her Albert .
February 18, 2023
A great book telling the story of Queen Victoria’s death and funeral, told entirely from first-person accounts of the day.
September 18, 2023
The British are keen on tradition as this book describes the events leading up to the death of Queen Victoria and the preparation for funeral clearly show.
January 7, 2019
From BBC Radio 4 - 15 Minute Drama:
Michael Chaplin’s new five-part drama about the death of Queen Victoria.
For two weeks the nation stopped in its tracks, mesmerised by the mortality of a little old lady who had sat on the throne for over sixty years. Her children squabbled, her doctors quarrelled, her army bickered and the public were misled and kept in the dark. This is the remarkable story of Queen Victoria's final days and the chaos and confusion surrounding her funeral, told by those who were there.
Not many get this close to history.
It's 1953 and, on the eve of Elizabeth II’s coronation, the BBC interviews Queen Victoria’s dresser, Winnie Powell, who takes us on a journey into the past.
Based on the book Curtain Down at Her Majesty’s, an eyewitness history by Stewart Richards.
Cast:
Queen Victoria ….. Brigit Forsyth
Old Winnie Powell ….. Marcia Warren
Interviewer ….. Carl Prekopp
Mary Tuck ….. Wendy Nottingham
Young Winnie Powell ….. Lauren Cornelius
Sir James Reid ….. Ross F Sutherland
Sir Frederick ‘Fritz’ Ponsonby ….. Tom Turner
Kaiser Wilhelm ….. Hywel Morgan
Prince of Wales ….. Gerard McDermott
Other parts played by members of the cast.
Production Manager: Sarah Tombling
Sound Designers: David Chilton and Lucinda Mason Brown
Director: Carl Prekopp
Producers: Lucinda Mason Brown and Stewart Richards
A Stewart Richards / Goldhawk Essential co-production for BBC Radio 4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
Michael Chaplin’s new five-part drama about the death of Queen Victoria.
For two weeks the nation stopped in its tracks, mesmerised by the mortality of a little old lady who had sat on the throne for over sixty years. Her children squabbled, her doctors quarrelled, her army bickered and the public were misled and kept in the dark. This is the remarkable story of Queen Victoria's final days and the chaos and confusion surrounding her funeral, told by those who were there.
Not many get this close to history.
It's 1953 and, on the eve of Elizabeth II’s coronation, the BBC interviews Queen Victoria’s dresser, Winnie Powell, who takes us on a journey into the past.
Based on the book Curtain Down at Her Majesty’s, an eyewitness history by Stewart Richards.
Cast:
Queen Victoria ….. Brigit Forsyth
Old Winnie Powell ….. Marcia Warren
Interviewer ….. Carl Prekopp
Mary Tuck ….. Wendy Nottingham
Young Winnie Powell ….. Lauren Cornelius
Sir James Reid ….. Ross F Sutherland
Sir Frederick ‘Fritz’ Ponsonby ….. Tom Turner
Kaiser Wilhelm ….. Hywel Morgan
Prince of Wales ….. Gerard McDermott
Other parts played by members of the cast.
Production Manager: Sarah Tombling
Sound Designers: David Chilton and Lucinda Mason Brown
Director: Carl Prekopp
Producers: Lucinda Mason Brown and Stewart Richards
A Stewart Richards / Goldhawk Essential co-production for BBC Radio 4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews