Newsletter - May 2026
Friday 15th May 2026
Dear members,
At the moment the weather seems more like April with the unpredictable showers and cooler winds.
On April 22nd Toby gave his Spring Colour Walk. As always, members really enjoyed being shown the gardens by Toby and enjoying the beautiful displays. Click here to see pictures. Friends of Osborne | Spring Colour Walk with Toby 2026
Our visit to Dimbola Lodge on May 6th was a great success. Although only 10 of us attended, we thoroughly enjoyed hearing about Julia Margaret Cameron’s life, exploring the exhibition and having a chat in the café afterwards. For any of you who have never visited, it is well worth a visit, and the café is excellent! Click here for a summary and pictures. Friends of Osborne | Visit to Dimbola Lodge
On May 8th we had the tour of the Terraces and Walled Gardens with two garden volunteers. Although there were showers earlier, it turned out to be a lovely day and members came away having learnt an enormous amount about this part of Osborne. Click here for a summary and photos of the event. Friends of Osborne | Garden Tour
As this event was oversubscribed, Frances and Cynthia are repeating it in July, when the beds and borders will be very different.
Many of our members have recently visited the exhibition, ‘Tradition and Innovation: Queen Victoria’s Final Journey’. It is a really impressive. Click here for details and a video by one of our members. Friends of Osborne | Current Exhibitions at Osborne sponsored by FoO.
OSBORNE NEWS
Our days for entry into the House have been changed. As many of our members work and are unable to visit on a Monday or Friday, the new days for going into the House are now FRIDAY and SUNDAY. Also, it means that when family and friends visit at weekends, Friends of Osborne can enjoy visiting the House together.
The footfall at Osborne, as with all visitor attractions on the Island, has fallen sharply. It is important we support Osborne as much as possible. The repairs to the ceiling of Victoria Hall (Terrace Restaurant) are now complete and it is hoped the restaurant will be up and running for Sunday lunches and meals by half term.
The upstairs of Swiss Cottage is still closed while the roof is being repaired, but the ground floor is open, as is the Museum. The Valley Walk to the beach needs repair and is also closed, but they are hoping to soon have a path open beside it.
Victoria, the manager of Osborne, is thinking of new ways to encourage visitors to Osborne. There will be no large blockbuster events this year. Instead, the focus will be on events which do not rely on good weather. During the Easter holidays the Big Brick Build took place, where children created this enormous mosaic of Osborne House.
At the beginning of May, Osborne welcomed the first car event, the Triumph Sports Six Club (TSSC). This event was held in the Cottage Meadow, where owners showed off their lovingly restored Spitfires, Stags and Heralds.
The library will be open on Fridays throughout May at the following times, so please drop in and have a chat to the library volunteers, and have a look at our books! A printed copy of the catalogue is now available on our web site and in the library itself.
Friday 15th of May: 10am-2pm
Friday 22nd May: 10am-2pm
Friday 29th May: 10am 12pm
Presentation by Professor van Slyk on Saturday 16th May
This talk, arranged by English Heritage, will be in the Education Suite and will cost £7.50, which will include tea and coffee. Arrive from 2:00 pm with a 2:30 start. Friends of Osborne are able to book this talk.
Professor Abigail Van Slyck is giving a talk from her book ‘Playhouses and Privilege’. The talk will focus on the two chapters exploring Swiss Cottage entitled ‘Raising Royals in the age of Sentiment’ and ‘A Pastoral Paradise for Young Royals’. Please click here for link to booking. Playhouses and Privilege at Osborne | English Heritage
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday May 27th. Treasure Hunt. CANCELLED
Our next planned event has been cancelled due to lack of interest. This is very disappointing as we were trying to introduce a new event in which families and children could take part. Those who have booked will be given a refund.
However, EH are running ‘Mystery Missions’ at 17 sites, including Osborne, from Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May. Families can follow a mystery trail and uncover a top-secret message. Click here for more details. Mystery Mission at Osborne | English Heritage
Monday June 15th. Visit to Barton Manor. This event is fully booked and those members who are on the visit have been informed by email about where to meet.
Wednesday 24th June. Hidden Tours with Christopher Warleigh-Lack. Fully booked.
Friday 10th July. The Walled Garden Canapés and Drinks Party.
This event was hugely popular last year. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the walled garden, while listening to a harpist. Please click here for details and booking forms. Friends of Osborne | The Walled Garden Drinks Party
Friday 17th July – The Terraces and Walled Garden tour.
Frances and Cynthia are repeating their May talk. Please click here for details and booking forms. Friends of Osborne | Guided Talk of the Terraces and Walled Garden
Saturday 19th September - Windsor Castle trip. £65
Following the success of last year’s Buckingham Place trip with Opal Travel, a visit to Windsor Castle is planned. The trip will include coach and ferry travel and entry into Windsor Castle. Members will have the opportunity to visit the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Doll’s House and St. George’s Chapel. We ask for a £10 deposit which is non-refundable, with the final balance to be paid by Friday 24th July. Please click here for details and booking forms. Friends of Osborne | Visit to Windsor Castle
Autumn Events.
Details of the Quiz, talks and walks and the relevant booking forms will go out 6 weeks before the event. However, you may want to note them on your calendar.
- A Quiz Night in September. The supper will be reintroduced. Date and details to follow soon.
- Friday 18th September. A talk :‘Prince Albert, the Gardener’ by Toby Beasley.
- Friday 9th October. A talk: ‘Prince Albert on the IOW. Out of the Darkness and into the Light’ by Mark Earp
- Toby’s Autumn Walk in October
All our events (except Christopher’s Hidden Osborne) are open to friends and family members, as the money raised goes towards helping projects at Osborne. These events can be booked online. Although we prefer payment by BACS, we do still accept cheques. However, as the bank charges us 40p to process each cheque, we are adding a 50p fee for members who pay by cheque.
There have been a few occasions recently where members have booked but not paid, meaning that we have closed the bookings, thinking we have reached our maximum number. It is often an oversight and easily resolved; but sometimes members have failed to turn up and their place could have been given to someone else. The booking forms will now have a reminder to pay when booking and the place will not be secured until payment has been received.
Enjoy the sun when it appears and hopefully see some of you wandering around Osborne or at one of our events.