A hand-coloured lithograph of a group of people framed by the red curtains of a theatre box; the royal arms are faintly rendered at the bottom of the frame. Queen Victoria is at the centre. She has her arms folded in front of her, one hand holding a posy of flowers, and her head turned to the left. She wears a tiara, a pale silk dress with a fur stole, and white wrist-length gloves. On the right stands the Duchess of Kent, in a dark blue dress with black lace shawl and black plumed hat, with dark ringlets around her forehead. To the right, the Marquess of Conyngham has prominent dark sideburns and wears a blue tailcoat with high, gold-edged collar and a white sash, white gloves, and grey trousers. He holds the string presumably used to open the curtains. The Duchess of Sutherland is beside him, in pale green dress, tiara and white veil, holding a posy. More faintly rendered in the background are the Marchioness of Tavistock, in an elaborate plumed headdress, and the Earl of Albemarle, in red military uniform. Below, the title is printed: ‘Her Majesty as she appeared on her first visit to Covent Garden Theatre,’ and the names of the subjects are printed below each figure (except the queen).
Image: A hand-coloured lithograph of a group of people framed by the red curtains of a theatre box; the royal arms are faintly rendered at the bottom of the frame. Queen Victoria is at the centre. She has her arms folded in front of her, one hand holding a posy of flowers, and her head turned to the left. She wears a tiara, a pale silk dress with a fur stole, and white wrist-length gloves. On the right stands the Duchess of Kent, in a dark blue dress with black lace shawl and black plumed hat, with dark ringlets around her forehead. To the right, the Marquess of Conyngham has prominent dark sideburns and wears a blue tailcoat with high, gold-edged collar and a white sash, white gloves, and grey trousers. He holds the string presumably used to open the curtains. The Duchess of Sutherland is beside him, in pale green dress, tiara and white veil, holding a posy. More faintly rendered in the background are the Marchioness of Tavistock, in an elaborate plumed headdress, and the Earl of Albemarle, in red military uniform. Below, the title is printed: ‘Her Majesty as she appeared on her first visit to Covent Garden Theatre,’ and the names of the subjects are printed below each figure (except the queen).

William Drummond's coloured lithograph shows the newly-crowned Queen Victoria on her first appearance at one of London's most famous theatres. Framed by the curtains surrounding the royal box, she is something of a public spectacle herself.

Queen Victoria was an enthusiastic theatregoer from childhood and was aware of the need to publicly patronise the arts. In 1848, following criticism of her taste for French opera, she strategically sought out patriotic Shakespeare performances.

Drummond shows her crowded by her aristocratic entourage and overshadowed by her mother, the Duchess of Kent. Victoria's theatrical experiences were always discussed with those around her. The Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne was a key early influence. After her marriage in 1840, Victoria's theatrical tastes were increasingly shared with (and shaped by) her husband, Prince Albert.

Related objects