White Cotton Petticoat, Reputed to Have Belonged to Queen Victoria, England, 1840-1900

White cotton petticoat, possibly maternity, embroidered hem, part of Chalmers collection, reputed to have belonged to Queen Victoria, English, 1840-1900.

This cotton petticoat is believed to have belonged to Queen Victoria (1819-1901). She was queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death. It may be a maternity petticoat despite the incredibly small waist measuring only 52 cm. Victoria bore nine children. Unusually for the time, all survived into adulthood. This was possibly due to higher levels of nutrition and sanitation received as royal children.

Victoria is credited with popularising anaesthetic use during childbirth after taking chloroform during the birth of two of her children in 1850 and 1853.