A home fit for a princess! Historic 19th century cottage that belonged to Queen Victoria's devoted youngest child Beatrice goes on the market on the Isle of Wight for £625,000

  • Grade II listed Osborne Cottage is being sold through Biles & Co
  • Four to five bedroom property was lived in by Queen Victoria's youngest child
  • Period features remain throughout - including stunning cantilevered staircase
  • Princess Beatrice moved in following mother's death at Osborne in 1901
  • Built around 1856, Osborne Cottage adjoins the Osborne House estate  

By KERRY MCDERMOTT FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

The stunning former home of Queen Victoria's devoted youngest daughter is on the market for £625,000. 

Osborne Cottage was built around 1856 on the Isle of Wight, and became Princess Beatrice's home following her mother's death in 1901. 

The home - which has been subdivided into a number of private residences - adjoins the Osborne estate, which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought in 1845 and turned into their summer retreat where their growing family could escape the pressures of London. 

When Queen Victoria died at Osborne, Beatrice - her fifth daughter and youngest child - moved into the cottage on the edge of the estate. She lived there until 1913 when she took up residence of Carisbrooke Castle, previously home to the Governor of the Isle of Wight, after it became vacant. 

The £625,000 home on the market incorporates several of the principal rooms of the original house, and stands in its own private garden.   

The four to five bedroom property retains magnificent period features including a domed atrium over the impressive cantilevered staircase, which allows light to stream into the dining room below.  

The dining hall at Osborne Cottage, Princess Beatrice's former home on the Isle of Wight, boasts parquet flooring, a granite fireplace, plus the view of the impressive cantilevered staircase - which is underneath an impressive domed atrium that allows light to pour in 

The dining hall at Osborne Cottage, Princess Beatrice's former home on the Isle of Wight, boasts parquet flooring, a granite fireplace, plus the view of the impressive cantilevered staircase - which is underneath an impressive domed atrium that allows light to pour in 

The domed atrium above the cantilevered staircase at the historic property, which is part way through a restoration project, and has gone on the market for £625,000 through Biles & Co

The domed atrium above the cantilevered staircase at the historic property, which is part way through a restoration project, and has gone on the market for £625,000 through Biles & Co

The grand dining room also features a granite fireplace and parquet flooring, while the entry hall - behind imposing double doors - has original Minton geometric tiles. 

Set in its own private garden, the cottage has a library with the original faux book-fronted cupboards, and double doors leading to the grounds. 

The bright drawing room has another set of French doors, as well as elegant, scrolled classical swagged plasterwork to the walls and ceiling, and another impressive fireplace. 

According to estate agent Biles & Co, the current owners have carried out restoration work while maintaining the cottage's many spectacular period features in light of its unique history, but there is further restoration work to be carried out. 

The two storey property has a drawing room, dining hall, kitchen, library, cloakroom and study on the ground floor, and four bedrooms, a family bathroom and a dressing room upstairs. 

Princess Beatrice, seen in 1885, was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Victoria and Albert. Of the Queen's nine children, Beatrice, who was just four-years-old when her father Albert died, became her devoted companion 

Princess Beatrice, seen in 1885, was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Victoria and Albert. Of the Queen's nine children, Beatrice, who was just four-years-old when her father Albert died, became her devoted companion 

The library at Osborne Cottage retains the original 'faux' book fronted cupboards. The property's current owners have carried out restoration work while taking care to retain the home's magnificent period features, the estate agent said 

The library at Osborne Cottage retains the original 'faux' book fronted cupboards. The property's current owners have carried out restoration work while taking care to retain the home's magnificent period features, the estate agent said 

The drawing room features elegant scrolled, classical swagged plasterwork to the walls and ceiling, and French doors that open out onto the gardens 

The drawing room features elegant scrolled, classical swagged plasterwork to the walls and ceiling, and French doors that open out onto the gardens 

Osborne Cottage on the Isle of Wight adjoins the Osborne estate, which was the summer residence of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert 

Osborne Cottage on the Isle of Wight adjoins the Osborne estate, which was the summer residence of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert 

Grand entrance: Built around 1856, the spectacular entry hall - behind imposing double doors - features a geometric 'Minton' tiled floor

Grand entrance: Built around 1856, the spectacular entry hall - behind imposing double doors - features a geometric 'Minton' tiled floor

Estate agent Sam Biles said Osborne Cottage was one of the most 'special' properties he had brought to the market.

'It's unusual to have such clear royal connections,' he said. 

'The quality of the interior is superb, and the hall with its cantilevered staircase is particularly notable.' 

Princess Beatrice - known as 'Baby' to her family - had been brought up to be by her mother's side always, and was only allowed to marry her husband Prince Henry Maurice of Battenberg on the condition the couple made their home with Beatrice's ageing mother, Queen Victoria. 

They were married at St Mildred's Church, near Osborne on the Isle of Wight, in 1885 and went on to have four children. 

She was the Queen's companion and unofficial secretary until Victoria's death in 1901, when Beatrice moved into Osborne Cottage - previously a guest annexe to the main house. 

She later moved into Carisbrooke Castle.   

The estate agent Biles & Co has said the sale of the property is a unique opportunity to play a role in the restoration of a property with royal links - and one which forms part of the history of the Isle of Wight

The estate agent Biles & Co has said the sale of the property is a unique opportunity to play a role in the restoration of a property with royal links - and one which forms part of the history of the Isle of Wight

Queen Victoria had nine children with her husband Albert. Beatrice, their fifth daughter and youngest child, moved into Osborne Cottage, which adjoins the Osborne estate, following the death of her mother in 1901

Queen Victoria had nine children with her husband Albert. Beatrice, their fifth daughter and youngest child, moved into Osborne Cottage, which adjoins the Osborne estate, following the death of her mother in 1901

Princess Beatrice's daughter Princess Victoria Eugenie became Queen of Spain as the wife of King Alfonso XIII. 

Victoria Eugenie's son Juan Carlos I of Spain was the grandfather of the current monarch, King Felipe VI. 

Princess Beatrice died in her sleep at the age of 87 in 1944. Following a funeral service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, her coffin was placed in the royal vault, before being transferred to the Isle of Wight where she was buried next to her husband in the grounds of the church where they married. 

Osborne Cottage is being sold through Biles & Co - visit bilesandco.co.uk for further details.  

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