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The Royal Archives

Letter from Benjamin Disraeli to Queen Victoria

Letter from Benjamin Disraeli to Queen Victoria announcing the acquisition of the Suez Canal. It includes the famous phrase 'You have it, Madam'
© The Royal Archives

COLLECTIONS IN THE ROYAL ARCHIVES

The Royal Archives contains a number of collections of papers, mostly from the reign of King George III (1760-1820) onwards.

The official papers of King George III and King George IV and their Private Secretaries were one of the first collections added to the newly-created Royal Archives, in 1912.

Since then, other private Royal Family papers, and collections of Royal correspondence from the papers of Royal Household employees or friends and acquaintances of the Royal Family from the Georgian period have been acquired by the Royal Archives.

The official correspondence of King William IV was destroyed, virtually in its entirety, after his death by his surviving executor; however, some of the papers of his two Prime Ministers, Lords Grey and Melbourne, have been given to the Royal Archives. Only a small amount of random material has survived in the Royal Archives for the earlier Hanoverian Kings.

The official and private papers of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII and some members of their families form a large collection.

Queen Victoria in particular was a prolific letter-writer and the collection retains much of her correspondence with relations, friends and government ministers throughout her life.

Queen Victoria also kept a detailed journal, a unique historical source for the period, and the 111 manuscript volumes are housed in the Royal Archives.

These in fact are only part of the original, since the Queen left instructions that after her death her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, should edit the diaries.

The majority of the volumes are therefore in Princess Beatrice's own hand, as she destroyed the originals after editing them.

Many papers, both official and private, from the reigns of King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI have been added to the Archives over the years, together with papers from other members of the Royal Family.

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The Royal Archives has few documents before the reign of George III (1760-1820).

Papers from earlier periods and documents such as Magna Carta and the Domesday Book are now in collections such as the National Archives, the British Library and the National Library of Scotland.

Household papers from the current reign are transferred to the Royal Archives when they are no longer needed for current use.

They include records of the Department of the Master of the Horse from the eighteenth century onwards; of the Privy Purse from the nineteenth century onwards; and of the departments of the Private Secretary, Lord Chamberlain and Lord Steward (the latter now called the Department of the Master of the Household) from the twentieth century.

Records up to 1901 of the departments of the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward are in the National Archives, and records of the Lord Chamberlain's Office relating to theatre censorship from 1901 to 1968 are in the British Library.

The Wardrobe accounts for 1660-1749 are the earliest series of Royal papers in the Archives.

They consist of three parallel series, of warrants, bills and receipts, relating to the supply of furniture and furnishings for Royal palaces, and of Royal liveries and ceremonial robes.

The Stuart papers (c.1689-1800) are the papers of the exiled Stuarts: King James II from the period of his exile in 1689 onwards, Prince James Francis Edward Stuart ('The Old Pretender') and his sons, Prince Charles Edward ('The Young Pretender') and Prince Henry Benedict (Cardinal Duke of York).

The Cumberland papers (1745-65) belonged to King George II's son, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.

They principally comprise the Duke's military correspondence and papers relating to his office as Ranger of Windsor Great Park.

Pages from Queen Mary's diary

Page from a volume describing the clothes Queen Mary, wife of George V, wore on particular occasions
© The Royal Archives

The Melbourne papers (1830-1841) comprise the political correspondence of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister.

The Royal Photograph Collection, which contains thousands of photographs collected by monarchs and members of the Royal Family, including some dating from the beginning of photography in the 1840s, is also based in the Round Tower at Windsor Castle. This forms parts of the Royal Collection.

Enquiries regarding photographs in this Collection should be sent to:
The Curator
The Royal Photograph Collection
Windsor Castle
Windsor
Berkshire SL4 1NJ.

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The Royal Household
	The Royal Archives Letter from Benjamin Disraeli to Queen Victoria Letter from Benjamin Disraeli to Queen Victoria announcing the acquisition of the Suez Canal. It includes the famous phrase 'You have it, Madam' © The Royal Archives COLLECTIONS IN THE ROYAL ARCHIVES The Royal Archives contains a number of collections of papers, mostly from the reign of King George III (1760-1820) onwards. The official papers of King George III and King George IV and their Private Secretaries were one of the first collections added to the newly-created Royal Archives, in 1912. Since then, other private Royal Family papers, and collections of Royal correspondence from the papers of Royal Household employees or friends and acquaintances of the Royal Family from the Georgian period have been acquired by the Royal Archives. The official correspondence of King William IV was destroyed, virtually in its entirety, after his death by his surviving executor; however, some of the papers of his two Prime Ministers, Lords Grey and Melbourne, have been given to the Royal Archives. Only a small amount of random material has survived in the Royal Archives for the earlier Hanoverian Kings. The official and private papers of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII and some members of their families form a large collection. Queen Victoria in particular was a prolific letter-writer and the collection retains much of her correspondence with relations, friends and government ministers throughout her life. Queen Victoria also kept a detailed journal, a unique historical source for the period, and the 111 manuscript volumes are housed in the Royal Archives. These in fact are only part of the original, since the Queen left instructions that after her death her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, should edit the diaries. The majority of the volumes are therefore in Princess Beatrice's own hand, as she destroyed the originals after editing them. Many papers, both official and private, from the reigns of King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI have been added to the Archives over the years, together with papers from other members of the Royal Family.
How the Monarchy works? Queen and State Queen and public Queen and Commonwealth Ceremony and symbol Royal finances	Did you know? The Royal Archives has few documents before the reign of George III (1760-1820). Papers from earlier periods and documents such as Magna Carta and the Domesday Book are now in collections such as the National Archives, the British Library and the National Library of Scotland. Household papers from the current reign are transferred to the Royal Archives when they are no longer needed for current use. They include records of the Department of the Master of the Horse from the eighteenth century onwards; of the Privy Purse from the nineteenth century onwards; and of the departments of the Private Secretary, Lord Chamberlain and Lord Steward (the latter now called the Department of the Master of the Household) from the twentieth century. Records up to 1901 of the departments of the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward are in the National Archives, and records of the Lord Chamberlain's Office relating to theatre censorship from 1901 to 1968 are in the British Library. The Wardrobe accounts for 1660-1749 are the earliest series of Royal papers in the Archives. They consist of three parallel series, of warrants, bills and receipts, relating to the supply of furniture and furnishings for Royal palaces, and of Royal liveries and ceremonial robes. The Stuart papers (c.1689-1800) are the papers of the exiled Stuarts: King James II from the period of his exile in 1689 onwards, Prince James Francis Edward Stuart ('The Old Pretender') and his sons, Prince Charles Edward ('The Young Pretender') and Prince Henry Benedict (Cardinal Duke of York). The Cumberland papers (1745-65) belonged to King George II's son, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. They principally comprise the Duke's military correspondence and papers relating to his office as Ranger of Windsor Great Park. Pages from Queen Mary's diary Page from a volume describing the clothes Queen Mary, wife of George V, wore on particular occasions © The Royal Archives The Melbourne papers (1830-1841) comprise the political correspondence of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister. The Royal Photograph Collection, which contains thousands of photographs collected by monarchs and members of the Royal Family, including some dating from the beginning of photography in the 1840s, is also based in the Round Tower at Windsor Castle. This forms parts of the Royal Collection. Enquiries regarding photographs in this Collection should be sent to: The Curator The Royal Photograph Collection Windsor Castle Windsor Berkshire SL4 1NJ. Next section Have you seen... Windsor Castle Information about the oldest Royal residence Queen Victoria Profile of the longest-reigning British monarch SUGGESTED LINKS The National Archives The Family Records Centre The National Archives of Scotland