Queen Victoria's Pets
Dr Rachael Bailey-Gibson SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Regions:
- Essex, London, Hertfordshire
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Historian, History
- Fee:
- Paid: £50 including travel
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 6th October 2026
Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901) and her family loved animals, and she kept many different kinds of pets throughout her long life. These animals were not just companions; some were gifts from other rulers, and others even became famous! As a young princess, Victoria was notably supportive of animal charities, lending her patronage to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1835, at age 16, and granting it the prefix 'Royal' three years later. At her Golden Jubilee in 1887, the Queen commented that the 'growth of more humane feelings towards the lower animals' over her lifetime brought her real pleasure.
In addition to keeping dogs as personal pets, the royal family were established breeders. The royal kennels were built in the early 1840s in Windsor Home Park and housed up to a hundred dogs. Queen Victoria also showed six of her Pomeranians at the first Crufts dog show in 1891. Dash, Lory the parrot, Nero, and Hector all feature in this fascinating talk, guaranteed to be enjoyed by animal and history lovers alike!
Views: 3 | Enquiries: 0About Dr Rachael Bailey-Gibson
I was born in Brentwood, Essex, and have had a lifelong interest in nineteenth-century history. I have spoken at universities, public record offices, local history clubs, Women's Institutes, professional working men's organisations, and U3A's. I speak in Essex, London and the surrounding areas.
In 2023, I received the prestigious Future 100 Centenary Scholarship from the University of Leicester, where I worked within their globally renowned Victorian Studies Centre. My talks centre on Victorianism, from lunatic asylums and workhouses to how Victorians celebrated Easter and Christmas. All my talks are informative, lively, and entertaining. I bring my own equipment and can speak at short notice.
My talks last fifty minutes but can be easily tailored to fit your schedule. I always use a PowerPoint presentation with lots of images. I include entertaining activities, real case studies, and links to more information about the different topics. I also leave time for a question-and-answer session at the end.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Dr Rachael Bailey-Gibson
- From Bedlam to Bipolar: Changing Attitudes Towards Mental Health
- The History of Essex Lunatic Asylum [Warley Hospital]
- Theatre and Entertainment in the Pauper Lunatic Asylum
- Dr de Steiger - the first English female psychiatrist
- A Victorian Easter
- The Story of the Tay Bridge Disaster
- Bedlam - the history of the world's oldest psychiatric hospital
- A Victorian Christmas
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