Royal Tattoos

One of the most interesting things I found out while researching was that many members of the high aristocracy and royalty had tattoos. Lady Churchill (Winston Churchill's mother) had a tattoo. She had a tattoo of a snake eating its own tail on her wrist which was a symbol of eternity.  Supposedly, she had a special diamond bracelet crafted to cover it up when she had to. She got the tattoo got a tattoo, like “many other Londoners, in honor of the coronation of King Edward VII whose reign ushered in a new opulence and signaled the end of Victorian conservatism."

During the reign of Victoria, women were not even allowed to wear facial makeup. Although it is rumored that the Queen herself had a tattoo of a Bengal tiger fighting a python.

Another interesting thing I found while researching is that body piercings may have also been pervasive at this time with members of the aristocracy. It is  rumored that Lady Churchill also had her nipples pierced!

And there is the other rumor that Prince Albert had a penis piercing which is called the Prince Albert today. There is no real evidence that he had this piercing but there are some supposed reasonings behind it. Apparently he got the piercing because the fashionable pants of the time were very tight and it was inappropriate to show the outline of his penis so he got a piercing that would allow him to tuck it away in some manner.

It is very difficult to find evidence for the piercings but if they had tattoos, it doesn't seem so far-fetched!