Chairman's Newsletter - July 2026
Monday 13th July 2026
Friends of Osborne Newsletter July 2026
Friends of Osborne Newsletter July 2026
Dear members,
The heat wave continues but the breeze over the past few days has brought a fresher feel.
Friends of Osborne continues to host popular and successful events. We have just been able to offer membership to those on the waiting list and our membership now stands a 1188. Our limit is 1200 so online membership applications have reopened.
We have a strong committee but recently some members have stepped down. If you feel you would like to join the committee and bring new ideas and help with running FoO please contact Secretary@friendsofosborne.org.
RECENT EVENTS
Wednesday 24th June. Hidden Tours with Christopher Warleigh-Lack.
On a very hot evening, Dr. Christopher Warleigh-Lack, curator of the Royal Collection at Osborne House, conducted two tours of the hidden parts of Osborne House.
After a refreshing drink in the Education Suite Christopher conducted our guests into the coolness of the basement areas of the house which are not open to the general public.
From here they made their way through the house until they reached the roof with stunning views of the gardens and the Solent beyond.
Friends of Osborne | Hidden Tour 2026
Friday 10th July. The Walled Garden Canapés and Drinks Party.
What a sight greeted us as we entered the Walled Garden to enjoy our private drinks party on a lovely summers evening.
The garden looked resplendent with its colourful summer flowers in bloom and, together with the scent of the lavender, provided a splendid setting for the party.
Drinks were served and canapés were provided as we were entertained by the harpist which all added to the atmosphere.
A magical evening for all to enjoy.
Friends of Osborne | The Walled Garden Drinks Party 2026
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday 17th July – The Terraces and Walled Garden tour.
This event is now fully booked
Thursday 10th September Quiz Night.
Test your knowledge against our quiz mistress, Carolyn, in our fun filled quiz. Compete for the coveted challenge cup in 4 specialist rounds of 10 questions together with a Joker option.
Try your luck at the 20 table questions for a bottle of wine and win prizes in the raffle
Enjoy a sausage and mash supper, from Osborne’s in-house catering team, during the interval.
Ticket price to include a sausage and mash supper - £20
There will be a bar available serving alcoholic drinks and mocktails throughout the evening.
Please click here for details and booking forms - Friends of Osborne | Quiz Night 2026
Friday 18th September. A talk: ‘Prince Albert, the Gardener’ by Toby Beasley.
Osborne is the place where Prince Albert really exercised his interests in gardening. He inherited gardens at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, and Balmoral was much more about countryside pursuits. This talk will explore some of the constraints and the need for efficiencies Prince Albert experienced and how the garden at Osborne became the sole place he could really develop 'his own' garden. We'll look at Prince Albert's garden design and planting ideas and some of the potential areas for future restoration.
Please click here for details and booking forms - Friends of Osborne | Prince Albert - The Gardener. Talk by Toby Beasley
Saturday 19th September - Windsor Castle trip. £65
Forty-eight people have booked for this trip. The coach can take 53 so there are still five places available if anyone would still like to book.
The final balance is due by Friday 24th July. Please click the link to make the final payment and opt for a pickup location.
Friends of Osborne | Visit to Windsor Castle
Autumn Events.
- 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: date to be announced.
St Mildred’s Churchyard
The Victoria Cross Trust returned to St Mildred’s Church to clean more headstones following their successful visit last year. This year they concentrated their efforts at first on the five Osborne Naval College Cadets buried here, and on the many Officers of both the Army and the Navy who sadly died while convalescing at the Osborne Convalescent Home, most after serving in WWI. I think that the Friends of Osborne will agree that the volunteers of the Victoria Cross Trust have done a magnificent job at St. Mildred’s church yard over the last week, under such difficult weather conditions. The number of head stones that they have managed to clean this year has been fantastic, about thirty, and the church yard looks so much more cared for.
Friends of Osborne.