In Britain, sovereigns and their consorts were usually buried at Westminster Abbey or St George’s Chapel, Windsor. However, Queen Victoria, having probably discussed the matter with Prince Albert, followed the German tradition of building a private mausoleum. The Mausoleum is located near Frogmore House in Windsor Home Park, southeast of Windsor Castle. Victoria instructed Ludwig Grüner, Prince Albert’s principal artistic advisor, and architect Albert Jenkins Humbert to design the building.

Victoria laid the foundation stone in March 1862 and the Mausoleum was consecrated in December 1862. The decoration, however, was not fully completed for another ten years. Victoria followed progress very closely, as proven by photograph albums in the Royal Collection that meticulously record the construction between April 1862 and March 1866. After its completion, the Mausoleum remained an important part of Victoria's everyday life. Her later diary entries record regular visits when at Windsor, and the Royal Collection holds two watercolours by Queen Victoria depicting views of the Mausoleum.