Shabby Apartments In Kensington Palace

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

In 1820, Victoria became the heiress presumptive and got to experience a series of royal progresses throughout the country. At the age of 18, Victoria was crowned queen due to the death of King William at Westminster Abbey on June 28, 1838. Victoria expressed her thoughts about being crowned the queen in her diary. She stated,

"I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such a Nation." (Queen Victoria’s Journal)

On February 10, 1840, Victoria married the man who had the greatest influence on her life, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at Chapel Royal, St James Palace. Prince Albert was her husband and first cousin. He was described as a man of "culture and taste, a true polymath, and he moulded and shaped the character of his wife completely" (David Williamson). Being married to Victoria was considered a "full-time occupation." (David Williamson) He understood Victoria’s mourn for not knowing her father and not being able to be like other children.

Victoria was a queen and mother. Albert and she had nine children that included four boys and five girls. The eldest of her children was Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise whom was given the title as the Empress of Germany after marrying Frederick (Fritz) of Prussia in 1858. Victoria was born in 1840 and died in 1901. Edward Albert, the second oldest, became the Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay. Edward was crowned Prince of Wales since he was next in line to the throne after mother’s death. He was born in 1841 and died in 1901. Alice Maud Mary, the third oldest, was given the title as Grand Duchess of Hess-Darmstadt after marrying Prince Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1862. She was born in 1843 and died in 1878. The fourth oldest child, Alfred Ernest Albert was given the title as Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and married Princess Marie of Russia in 1874. He was the first member of his royal family to visit Australia. Alfred was born in 1844 and died in 1900. Victoria’s fifth child, Helena Augusta Victoria became the Princess of Schleswig-Holstein after marrying Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. She was born in 1846 and died in 1923. Louise Caroline Alberta the sixth child born in 1848. She married Marquess of Lorne and was named Dowager Duchess of Argyll in 1871. She died in 1939. The seventh child was Arthur William Patrick Albert who became Duke of Connaught and married Princess Lousie of Prussia. He was born in 1850 and died in 1942. Leopold George Duncan Albert was Duke of Albany and married Princess of Helena of Waldeck Pyrmont. He was born in 1853 and died in 1884. The youngest child of the nine is Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore who married Prince Henry of Battenberg and became the Princess Beatrice of Battenberg. She was born in 1856 and died in 1944.

Life for Victoria wasn’t always a fairy tale. On December 14, 1861, Victoria’s husband died of Typhoid at Windsor Castle. Victoria earned herself the nickname "The Widow of Windsor" by refusing to be engaged in any public events. She was only seen in public during the Parliament in 1866 and 1867. Victoria felt comfort staying at the Osborne House of Wight and Balmoral Castle in Scotland that were creations of Prince Albert. She formed a close relationship with her servant John Brown that concerned everyone. Brown’s death caused her to form an attachment to her Indian secretary, Abdul Karim also known as "the Munshi." Everyone was concerned about their relationship.

Between the years of 1870 and 1871, Victoria started to lose popularity because of her refusal to come out in public. People questioned her reason for being queen and purpose in the monarchy.

Victoria started to feel a sense of pride and satisfaction after a proclamation. On January 1, 1877, she became the Empress of India at Delhi. On June 20 and 21 in 1887, Victoria celebrated the Golden Jubilee. The Golden Jubilee showed the popularity, love, and respect everyone had for the queen. Crowds of people cheered Victoria on from her balcony. The celebration marked fifty years of reign to Britain. She traveled into Buckingham Palace where fifty foreign kings and princes attended a feast. She described day one of the event in her diary.

"Had a large family dinner. All the Royalties assembled in the Bow Room, and we dined in the Supper-room, which looked splendid with the buffet covered with gold plate. The table was a large horseshoe one, with lights on it. The King of Denmark took me in and Willy of Greece sat on my other side. The Princes were all in uniform and the Princesses were all beautifully dressed. Afterwards we went into the Ballroom, where my band played." (The official website of The British Monarchy)

On the second day of the Golden Jubilee, Victoria was transported in an open landau by Indian cavalry to allow everyone to see the queen and pay their respect to her. Later on, the queen was wore a "splendid" gown with artificial silver roses, thistles and shamrocks to the banquet (The Official Website of The British Monarchy). Victoria gave her family respect by giving them Jubilee medals. Victoria received a long ceremonial walk with the attendance of diplomats and Indian princes including, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, The Maharao of Kutch, The Maharaja of Holkar of Indore, The Thakor of Gondal and the Maharaja.

On June 20, 1897, Queen Victoria celebrated her sixty years of reign. She wrote in her diary

"How well I remember this day sixty years ago when I was called from my bed by dear Mama to receive the news of my accession." (The Official Website of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee)

On Monday, June 21, Victoria hosted the State Banquet for those who were invited to the celebration. The following day, the queen was escorted to the Buckingham Palace to see her people and receive congratulations. The seventy-eight year old queen struggled to walk up the stairs to the Cathedral so it was hosted outside. On the stairs of the palace a hymn of praise was sung called "Te Deum" in honor of Victoria. The Warders of the Tower of London were stationed in St. Paul’s Cathedral during the "open-air" thanksgiving. (The Official Website of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee) Queen Victoria took a trip to London where she was greeted by Lord Mayor. She toured the town to allow everyone to see her. In honor of the queen’s visit, streets were alight and bonfires were happening all over the country. The Jubilee celebration continued on until June 28, 1897. Victoria made a visit to a school and other countries to be congratulated by thousands of people. The queen received 1,310 telegrams from people in other parts of the world.

Victoria is remembered for many things in her lifetime. Queen Victoria was the first to be given anesthetic when giving birth. In 1878, she was the first to give a private telephone call. The queen was the first photographed British monarch. Those who lived during her reign experienced the upcoming of railways, postage stamps, trade, unions, electric light, radio signals, X-rays, the motor car, barbed wire, machine guns, the dum dum bullet and the London underground, Marks and Salvation Army. The most precious moments of Queen Victoria’s life are shared in her diary that has been discovered.

Queen Victoria’s health started to take a turn for the worse. The queen suffered from rheumatism, insomnia and loss of appetite. On January 22, 1901, Victoria took her last breathe at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wright with her children, and grandchildren surrounding. The queen was placed insider her coffin with Albert’s dressing gown, a cast of his hand, and some of John Brown’s hair. Victoria was buried next to her husband, Albert. She had led a full and exciting life. She touched the lives of all who met her and worked with her.

Works Citied

"Queen Victoria's Journals - Information Site." Queen Victoria's Journals - Information Site. N.p., 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

"The Death of Queen Victoria, 1901." The Death of Queen Victoria, 1901. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

"Queen Victoria's Children." Queen Victoria's Children. N.p., 2013. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

"The Queen's Golden Jubilee History of Jubilees Queen Victoria." The Queen's Golden Jubilee History of Jubilees Queen Victoria. N.p., 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

"The Official Website of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee." The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. N.p., 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

Cavendish, Richard, and Pip Leahy. "Victoria, Queen and Empress." Kings & Queens. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2007. N. pag. Print.

Phillips, Charles, and John Haywood. "Victoria 1837-1901." The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Kings & Queens of Britain: A Magnificent and Authoritative History of Royalty of Britain, the Rulers, Their Consorts and Families, and the Pretenders to the Throne. London: Hermes House, 2007. 210-19. Print.

Williamson, David. "Victoria 1837-1901." The National Portrait Gallery History of the Kings and Queens of England. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. 107-08. Print.