Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the Osborne estate on the Isle of Wight 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.
The terraces beside the house were an integral part of the gardens. This view of the Lower Terrace shows myrtle growing on the wall beneath the steps.