RA VIC/MAIN/Z/124
Princess Victoria’s paper dolls, c.1830
RA VIC/MAIN/Z/124 (view an extract from the document)
The future Queen Victoria (1819–1901) grew up at Kensington Palace.
She had rather a lonely childhood, constantly supervised by her mother, her governess or one of her tutors, and mixing with few other children.
Princess Victoria enjoyed various pastimes, however, including painting, horse riding and playing with her collection of over 130 tiny wooden dolls.
She also painted paper dolls that were cut out and pasted into volumes.
This page shows three paper dolls made by the Princess's governess, Baroness Lehzen, and one, ‘Lady Maria’ (second from right), painted by Princess Victoria herself.