Queen Victoria's beach: a sneak preview - in pictures

A view of Osborne Bay, Queen Victoria's private beach in front of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images The beach will open to the public for the first time on Friday 27 July Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Queen Victoria's original wooden bathing machine at Osborne Bay Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in 1845. They extended it to create a large private home as an escape from court life in London and Windsor Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images A view of Osborne Bay Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images English Heritage, which owns the property, has restored the Queen's Alcove, where she sat and sketched the coastal views Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Europe 1870: Queen Victoria and her grandchildren with a pony and trap being held by her personal attendant John Brown in the garden of Osborne House Photograph: Otto Herschan/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images The royal children collected shells from the shore Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images