Queen Victoria visits the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte - 24th August 1855

On 24th August 1855, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their two eldest children visited the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Church of Invalides. The sarcophagus was then in the small chapel of St Jérome in the church.

Napoleon was initially buried on St Helena Island in 1821 but In 1840 his remains were reburied in a temporary tomb inside Les Invalides at the request of King Louis Phillip. The permanent resting place The Dôme des Invalides would not be complete until two decades later in 1861.

Queen Victoria at the Tomb of Napoleon, 24 August 1855 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust

There is a later account from Marshal Canrobert's memoirs regarding Queen Victoria's eldest son Albert Edward. According to this recollection, Victoria placed her hand on the shoulder of her son, Albert Edward, and told him to kneel before the tomb of “the Great Napoleon.” The future Edward VII apparently obeyed. There is no mention of this in Queen Victoria's journal, but perhaps it may not have escaped Princess Beatrice's rigorous censorship of her mother's diary, or this is little more than theatrical heresy.

Queen Victoria recorded in her Journal for that day: ‘I stood on the arm of Napoleon IIIrd, before the coffin of his Uncle, our bitterest foe! I, the granddaughter of that King, who hated Napoleon most…& this very nephew, bearing his name now my nearest and dearest ally!’

Queen Victoria’s Journal: “Very little sun, but still oppressively hot. — The Emperor, at breakfast gave Bertie, a beautiful little Pistol, the case of which splendidly fitted up. — Albert went off with him & the Emperor to Vincennes. — Sketched a little in one of the rooms, from which there is a lovely view looking up the long avenue, then wrote. — At ½ p. 12 started with Vicky, the Psse d'Essling & Ly Ely for Paris, having seen the dear Empress before. Drove straight to the Tuileries, where we found the Emperor & Albert waiting for us. We lunched immediately & directly afterwards went in the Town Carriage to the Exposition, where Pce Napoleon met us, — grumpy & contradictory, as usual. Went over the agricultural part, where Albert & Bertie separated from us, & walked all round the Galleries, full of machinery, said to be very good, & through the different sections of all countries. In the Lyons one I chose some silks, &c.. Passed only very cursorily through each including India, which is much admired, & where Dr Royall was. Saw a very curious demonstration on the rotation of the earth. Returned with the Emperor & Vicky to the Tuileries by ¼ to 4 & rested a little & tried to get cool. Albert returned soon after me. — At ½ p. 4 we got into other carriages to proceed to the Review, the Empress having arrived. Drove with her & my 2 Children, Bertie being in full Highland dress. The Emperor, Albert, Pce Adalbert, (looking wonderful, riding shockingly, seeming as if he would fly every few minutes over his horse's head) Pce Napoleon, & a most brilliant, suite, were all on horseback. The Emperor rode on my side of the carriage, & Albert on the Empress's. Immense & most enthusiastic crowds out. We proceeded by that beautiful Place de la Concorde, to the Champs de Mars, going over the Pont de Jena. A few drops of rain fell, but nothing to signify. The coup d'oeuil on the Champs de Mars was truly magnificent, from 30 to 40,000 men, several rows deep being drawn up there. Each Regt had its powerful good Band, fine, commanding Tambour Majeur & the picturesque, neatly dressed Cantinières, some of whom were very smart, & all, cheering & playing "God save the Queen” our Cartège had became immense as we drove down the centre of the Line, having been increased by all Maréchals & Generals, including Canrobert, & the picturesque Arabs, 1rst passed down the Infantry, & then the Cavalry & Artillery. This over, we drove into the Ecole Militaire, the Emperor alone getting off his horse, & leading me upstairs to a large balcony in front of which the Empr, Albert, &c. took up their station. Here, we found Psse Matilde, & we ladies, sat down. Then, commenced the "défilé" in quick time, which took ¾ of an hour. The Infantry came by 1rst, commencing with the Zouaves, & the Chasseurs de la Garde, then the Cavalry, Guides (a very fine Regt), the Cuirassiers de la Garde, 2 Regts of Carabiniers (one of which we had seen at En), Lanciers, Hussars, Gen d'Armerie (very fine) & lastly, Artillery, just the reverse to what it is with us. The clothes of all the men seemed to be infinitely better made & cut than our's, which provokes me much. All the old Invalides, chiefly of former wars, but also some of the present, were drawn up on either side of the Courtyard into which we drove, to visit the Church of the Invalides. The Govt, Cte d'Ornano was in a great state at not having been "prévenu" in good time, but everything was very well arranged. There were 4 lighted torches, which lit us along, adding to the solemnity of the very striking scene. The Church is fine, lofty, with a big cupola. From above we looked down upon the open vault, the effect of which the Emperor does not like, saying that it looks like "un grand bassin; l'on arrive et se demande, ou est donc le tombeau de l'Emperor? L'an s'attend à voir de l'eau". The interior designs are however very fine. The coffin has not yet been placed there, but rests in a small side Chapel of St. Jérôme, not below. Into this the Emperor led me & there I stood on the arm of Napoleon IIIrd, before the coffin of his Uncle, our bitterest foe! I, the granddaughter of that King, who hated Napoleon most & who most vigorously opposed him, & this very nephew, bearing his name, now my nearest & dearest ally!! "God save the Queen" was being played on the organ at the time of this solemn event. Strange & wonderful indeed! It seems as if in this tribute of respect to a departed & great Foe, old enmities & rivalries were being wiped out, & as if the seal of Heaven were placed upon the bond of amity & unity which is now happily established between the 2 great & powerful nations! May this prosper & last! The coffin was covered with a black velvet & gold pale, Napoleon's orders, hat & sword being at its feet. The Emperor does not intend having his Uncle permanently buried at the Invalides, but wishes his remains to be taken to St. Denis, where all the French Kings are interred, being very anxious to legalise the family in France, as a Dynasty, but the heart will remain at the Invalides. We went down for a moment into the vault, but it was very cold. Returned to the Tuileries by ½ p. 7 when Psse Matilde & Princes took leave of us. — Rain begun to descend heavily & fell at last in torrents for some time. — We had our nice little dinner with the Emperor (the Children having gone back) & we talked a great deal about the war. Some Despatches, up to the 14th had arrived, which Albert showed the Empr, & spoke of the reports we had received. The servants being still in the room, he began to talk in English. He lamented bitterly over the lack of invention & energy in both our Commanders, from the very first, & over the absence of any great genius. He then spoke very frankly & openly of the defects of our Generals, & we, equally frankly, told him of what was to be objected to, in his! Nothing could have been more satisfactory than this conversation, or the Emperor's observations & proposals have been more straightforward & honest. It was just as if we had one & the same Army, which it in fact is, but it is very pleasant to find this in another Sovereign. — At ½ p.9, we went with the Emperor, &c. — to the Opéra Comique, — not in state, — though we were recognised. We sat in the Emperor's Private Box, which is on the stage, only Ly Ely, Mme Labédoyère, (a charming person) Ld Clarendon, Maréchal Vaillant & Ct Baciocchi being in the Box with us. Auber's pretty Opera of "Haydée" was given, & very nicely sung. The 1rst act was already over when we arrived. At the conclusion of the Opera, before the curtain dropped, "God save the Queen was sung, & I had to show myself, being loudly cheered. We got back to St. Cloud at ¼ to 12. The Emperor again talked much of the war, in the carriage.”

Victoria, Q. (1855). Friday 24th august 1855. Queen victoria's journals - drafts (pp. 20-21) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/archival-materials/friday-24th-august-1855/docview/2832420388/se-2