BBC Proms celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth

In celebration of the 200th Anniversary of her birth, Queen Victoria’s ‘Erard’ piano has been played during BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. 

The piano was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1856 from the London firm "S & P Erard" and is normally installed in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. Visitors to The Palace during the summer are able to see the piano but on Friday, concert-goers were able to see the piano being played. 

The piano is now part of the Royal Collection, which is held in trust for the nation by Her Majesty The Queen. Works from the collection are frequently loaned on a short or long-term basis to institutions throughout the UK and around the world. 

Both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert played the piano and Friday’s performance showcased the music they loved. The programme included "Five Lieder" written by Prince Albert himself, sung by tenor Alessandro Fisher.

The Queen and The Prince would also play or sing to each other in private. Prince Albert would play piano to The Queen during her confinements after the births of their children.

Listeners in the UK can listen to the full performance on iPlayer. 

After the performance, the piano returned to Buckingham Palace, where it can be viewed by visitors during the annual Summer Opening. 

Find out more about Queen Victoria here.