A Queen Victoria lookalike takes a stroll along the beach at Osborne. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
VIDEO
A 'QUITE charming beach’ where Queen Victoria first swam in the sea, is to be opened to the public.
The private beach, at Osborne House, was a deciding factor when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert chose to buy the seaside property as their home, in 1845.
At the time, Queen Victoria wrote 'we have a quite charming beach to ourselves' and she later said 'it is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.'
English Heritage will open the beach to visitors for the first time next Friday, July 27, and throughout the summer family entertainment, similar to that enjoyed by the Queen, such as Punch and Judy shows, will be on offer.
There will also be the chance to see the Queen’s bathing machine, where she would change into her bathing costume. Curtains were put up to allow her to enter the water, without anyone seeing her in her costume.
For more, see the Isle of Wight County Press on Friday, July 20.
A model poses with the restored bathing machine at Osborne. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
Video courtesy of My Destination Isle of Wight - http://www.mydestination.com
Reporter: mattw@iwcpmail.co.uk