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Last week, I watched the 1939 version of The Hound of the Baskervilles, featuring Basil Rathbone as the detective. Tina was looking for a lighter read and found one (mostly) with The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary.

Today, May 24, 2019, is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. How do you celebrate a queen’s 200th birthday?

The Royal Mint has issued a commemorative £5 coin. I think we can be sure that it won’t circulate since you’ll pay £13 to get it!

The £5 coin to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 200th birthday

Besides the portrait of Victoria, the front of the coin has a bit of a steampunk theme going on with all the gears encasing pictures that demonstrate progress made during the Victorian age. The reverse of the coin shows both Victoria and Albert — Albert’s 200th birthday is in August.

Two new exhibits begin today at Kensington Palace, where Victoria spent her formative years.

Victoria: A Royal Childhood tells the story of her childhood “in the rooms where she was born and raised.” This is a new permanent exhibit, so we may all dream of seeing it someday.

Victoria: Woman and Crown features surviving items from the queen’s adult wardrobe, including a stylish pair of silver boots. The exhibit also explores Queen Victoria’s fascination with India, including the diaries that she wrote in Urdu.

Silver boots to be displayed at Kensington Palace starting today.

Osborne Palace points out that many of Victoria and Albert’s birthday celebrations occurred at that location. Seven gifts given between members of the royal family are featured in their exhibit to honor the 200th birthdays. The Royal Presents at Osborne page includes descriptions and pictures of each.

I love the quote that Osborn Palace shared from Queen Victoria’s diary that she wrote on her birthday in 1852 when she turned 33:

It is always a delightful moment going into the room where my presents are arranged, and I still have the same feeling I had as a child.