The gardens of the Swiss Cottage at Osborne

The gardens surrounding the Swiss Cottage at Osborne, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's seaside home on the Isle of Wight, formed part of Albert's educational plan for his children. They had identical plots arranged into beds to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the Osborne estate in 1845, and there they created a private home away from court life. Victoria used Osborne for over 50 years, entertaining foreign royalty and visiting ministers, and finding solace there after Albert’s death in 1861. Today, many of the rooms are still filled with original furniture and works of art, while the planting in the grounds is to Albert’s designs.