Concluding Thoughts...

            When I finished my research I realized that the way Victoria was portrayed in “The Young Victoria” was in many ways correct. She was a fiery young woman with a love and desire to serve her country. Victoria had a passionate love for her husband Albert with whom she fought and argued over responsibilities and authority. We see all this and then the credits start rolling. But the story doesn’t end there. Victoria’s life continued and she brought many children into the world who in turn married into other royal families across the globe and had children, making her the “Grandmother of Europe”. She also led Britain during troubling times, from rioting in India to the Crimean War. But even though she was a monarch and led a great empire, she was foremost a woman who outlived her husband and ended her life as a lonely widow.  

Discovering Queen Victoria

            I began my search of information about Victoria with WilsonWeb. This resource allowed me to search for articles that were available for viewing online at any time. It was there that I discovered “Queen Victoria and the Palace Martyr” by Kate Williams that brought to light one of the biggest issues to plague Victoria in the early years of her reign as queen. This event also known as “The Bedchamber Crisis” not only highlighted Victoria’s inexperience and youth but also revealed her stubbornness. Victoria, greatly influenced by her friend and advisor, Lord Melbourne gave the positions of ladies-in-waiting to the wives and daughters of Lord Melbourne’s Whig friends. This went undisputed until it was discovered that the Whigs were about to lose the vote, and the Tories take over Parliament. The Tory leader Robert Peel requested that some of the Queen’s ladies be replaced by Tory supporters but she refused. Peel, not wishing to have a split between the monarchy and Parliament allowed Lord Melbourne to keep his position, and the Whigs their standing in Parliament. This angered the public who viewed this occurrence as the Queen choosing her own Parliament. This combined with the Lady Flora Hastings scandal caused an uproar among British citizens. Lady Flora Hastings, a lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Kent, Victoria’s mother, and from a prominent Tory family,  was believed, by the royal household to be pregnant with the child of Sir John Conroy, the Duchess’s personal advisor. Lady Flora denied these claims, eventually falling ill, and dying. It was later discovered that the disease that killed her caused her liver to swell, making her look pregnant. These two events revealed much about Victoria’s character. In “The Bedchamber Crisis” Victoria exhibited a stubbornness, viewed by her as strength, that would continue to cause trouble for her in her early life. At the same time in the Lady Flora Hastings scandal Victoria showed her youth and susceptibility to rumor and prejudice.   

Also through WilsonWeb I discovered an article called “Dear John…” by Bendor Grosvenor that was published in History Today. In the article Grosvenor discusses a letter sent from Queen Victoria to Lord Cranbrook after the death of her faithful servant and friend John Brown in 1883. For many years Victoria had been suspected of having a deeper more romantic relationship with Brown. Nothing was ever proven but her feelings for Brown are revealed in this letter. Victoria describes Brown as having “strength of character, as well as power of frame- the most fearless uprightness, kindness, sense of justice, honesty, independence and unselfishness, combined with a tender warm heart.” She then compare the death of Brown with that of her husband Albert decades earlier “… the Queen feels that life for the second time is become most trying and sad to bear deprived of all she so needs.” Though nothing may ever be proven it is clear, through this letter, that Victoria had a great capacity for passionate and deep feelings for those dear to her.

After searching on WilsonWeb and finding only a few articles that were very informative I continued my search on Google. Simply typing in “Queen Victoria” brought up thousands of results which I proceeded to sift through. But after quite a few articles I discovered that they didn’t really answer my question of what Victoria was really like, they only contained facts like Victoria’s date of birth, death, ascension to the throne, marrying Albert, etc. I then proceeded to Google News and found an article called “Doll From Queen Victoria” that was a reprint from Chicago Time-Herald in the Lewiston Evening Journal. The article relayed the story of Olmstead Ferris from Galesburg, Illinois who wished to acquaint England with popcorn. Ferris traveled to England and sent a barrel of popcorn to Queen Victoria with his compliments. He then succeeded in gaining a private audience with the Queen and was then trained in the etiquette and formalities of court. When the time came for his audience with Victoria he marched up to her and offered his hand saying “How do you do madam?” This needless to say went against everything that he was taught. This greeting pleased Victoria and later as a sign of her gratitude she sent a wax doll to Ferris’s daughter. The manner in which Victoria reacted to Olmstead Ferris’s greeting shows that Victoria had no unnecessary pride and that she could appreciate anyone of good quality no matter how they are presented to her.

Having exhausted my Internet resources I decided to turn to books. I then researched biographies and other books about Victoria and both Victoria and Albert. I eventually found three books with credible authors which I then inter-loaned through my local library. The first was Victoria and Albert by Richard Hough. The entire book was focused on Victoria and Albert’s relationship before and after their marriage until the time of his death on December 14^th, 1861. Their marriage was planned and hoped for by their Uncle Leopold and Albert’s father Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Though it was their intention for Victoria and Albert to marry Victoria had no intension of fulfilling their wishes unless it was her desire. When Albert first came to visit Kensington Palace in 1836 Victoria was very pleased with Albert and after he left they began to write letters to each other. Victoria then became Queen in 1837 and by 1839 had started to become lonely, though she did not wish to admit it. She then invited Albert to come visit her at Windsor Castle with the intention of asking him to marry her. Albert accepted and they were married on February 10^th, 1840. Victoria and Albert’s relationship was based on mutual love and it was this that brought them through all the trials of the monarchy. At first Victoria was unwilling to share her power with Albert but when Victoria became pregnant she allowed him to step in and fulfill some of her duties for him. Since Victoria was often pregnant Victoria and Albert ruled as a sort of dual-monarchy which was greatly beneficial to everyone. The eventual loss of Albert to typhoid fever was great and is sent Victoria into mourning for years.

Another book that was very informative was a biography called Queen Victoria by Walter L. Arnstein. Though this book covers Victoria’s entire life I gained the most information by looking at her life after Albert died, her life as a widow. During the twenty years that Victoria and Albert reigned together Victoria began to become less independent and willful as she was before. She came to seek and cherish Albert’s advice and presence at all times. After he died she was alone with no one close to her to support her anymore. Though she remained interested and informed of foreign and domestic affairs she went into reclusion and mourning. She did not make public appearances when unnecessary. Instead she built monuments of Albert everywhere and kept his rooms just as they were when he died. Every day she would have his clothes laid out and sought to fulfill his wishes and follow his advice in everything she did. Over time her involvement in foreign affairs increased and she was named Empress of India. But life wasn’t the same without Albert and once she expressed the desire to relinquish the throne and live in seclusion but she didn’t because she didn’t believe her son Albert or Bertie as he was better known was ready or qualified to rule. So to her last day Victoria ruled for her country and her people.

            In the last book I discovered Victoria’s personal enjoyments and thoughts as well as tastes in various areas such as literature and music. This book was Queen Victoria in Her Letters and Journals: A Selection by Christopher Hibbert. These personal writings revealed what Victoria enjoyed in her spare time. She was enjoyed reading the work of Charles Dickens especially Oliver Twist. She was also fond of Italian Opera. But also through these writings her deep and passionate love for Albert shows through. She often refers to him as an angel and writes of his wonderful qualities. On October 15^th, 1839 she wrote “Oh! To feel I was, and am, loved by such an Angel as Albert was too great delight to describe! He is perfection; perfection in every way…” It is also in her writings that it is discovered how much she detested childbirth. Though she loved all nine of her children was didn’t enjoy being pregnant or the duties that went with it. Also more often towards the end of her reign she referred to herself as “the Queen” in her correspondence though for what reason one cannot be sure.    

Meeting Albert

            Queen Victoria was a writer. She started keeping a journal at age 13 and continued throughout her entire life. She also corresponded through letters with many people, most frequently her Uncle Leopold, King of the Belgiums. I picked up a book from the library called Queen Victoria in Her Letters and Journals: A Selection by Christopher Hibbert. In it I found journal entries and letters from when Queen Victoria first met Albert. Here are some excerpts:

            Journal: 18 May 1836 “Albert, who is just as tall as Ernest [Albert’s brother] but stouter, is extremely handsome; his hair is about the same colour as mine; his eyes are large and blue, and he has a beautiful nose and a very sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of his countenance is his expression, which is most delightful; c’est a la fois full of goodness and sweetness, and very clever and intelligent…”  

            Letter to King Leopold: 7 June 1836 “I must thank you, my beloved Uncle, for the prospect of great happiness you have contributed to give me, in the person of dear Albert. Allow me, then, my dearest Uncle, to tell you how delighted I am with him, and how much I like him in every way. He possesses every quality that could be desired to render me perfectly happy. He is so sensible, so kind, and so good, and so amiable too. He has, besides, the most pleasing and delightful exterior and appearance you can possibly see.”

            Victoria’s Uncle Leopold and Albert’s father wished Victoria and Albert to marry but Victoria felt no obligation to grant this wish or even marry at all unless she herself desired it. She states this in this next letter to King Leopold:

            15 July 1839 “…Though all the reports of Albert are most favourable, and though I have little doubt I shall like him, still one can never answer beforehand for feelings, and I may not have the feeling for him which is requisite to ensure happiness. I may like him as a friend, and as a cousin, and as a brother, but not more; and should this be the case (which is not likely), I am very anxious that it should be understood that I am not guilty of any breach of promise, for I never gave any. I am sure you will understand my anxiety, for I should otherwise, were this not completely understood, be in a very painful position. As it is, I am rather nervous about the visit [of her cousins Ernest and Albert], for the subject I allude to is not an agreeable one to me.”

            Victoria was a very strong-willed and independent person. She was used to getting her own way and doing what she wanted. She thought that marrying would take this ability away from her and restrict what she did which is why she thought of marriage as a very disagreeable thing. But meeting Albert changed her mind. She proposed to him on October 15^th, 1839 (the monarch must propose in these situations) and they were married within the year.  Here is a link describing the wedding: http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_eminent_victoria_l.htm 

Sources About Victoria

           The majority of my sources for the I-Search essay I found on Wilson Web. These included two articles from History Today. The other source I found through Google News.

            My first source was an article from the Lewiston Evening Journal, printed on Dec 30^th, 1890 entitled “Doll From Queen Victoria”. It’s about Olmstead Ferris, the inventor of popcorn, and how he introduced himself and popcorn to Queen Victoria. He was instructed in the manners of court and how to address the Queen but when the time came for them to meet he walked up to her and offered his hand to her which pleased the Queen greatly. After the interview Ferris asked for a token to bring back to the States for his daughter and Victoria gave him a doll. Here is the full article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IdEoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A2sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2658,4559580&dq=queen+victoria&hl=en

            Another source I found was an article called “Dear John” by Bendor Grosvenor, printed in History Today. The whole article is about Victoria’s servant John Brown and the relationship between them. There has always been speculation about whether or not Victoria and Brown were romantically involved. The idea that they were is supported by a letter sent by Victoria to Lord Cranbrook that Grosvenor quotes and discusses in his article. He says that the attitude towards Brown’s death that Victoria takes is very like to that of the death of her husband Albert and that it is also contradicts what is written in her diary which Victoria requested be edited by her daughter Beatrice after her death.

            This last source is about the “The Bedchamber Crisis”. The article is “Queen Victoria and the Palace Martyr” by Kate Williams and it was also printed in History Today. “The Bedchamber Crisis” happened very early on in Victoria’s reign which explains why it was a massive affair. Not only was Victoria inexperienced but she was also not yet established with the people as a monarch. Victoria, greatly influenced by her friend and advisor, Lord Melbourne gave the positions of ladies-in-waiting to the wives of Lord Melbourne’s Whig friends. This was just fine until the Tories were about to take over Parliament. Their leader Robert Peel requested that some of the Queen’s ladies be replaced by Tory supporters but she refused. Peel, not wishing to have a split between the monarchy and Parliament allowed Lord Melbourne to keep his position in Parliament. This combined with the Lady Flora Hastings scandal, where the royal household believed Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent’s lady-in-waiting, who was from a prominent Tory family, to be pregnant with the child of Sir John Conroy, the Duchess’s personal advisor. Lady Flora denied these claims, eventually falling ill, and dying. It was later discovered that the disease that killed her caused her liver to swell, making her look pregnant. All of these proceedings made Victoria very unpopular with the public, who criticized her saying that she had killed Lady Flora. She only regained her people’s good favor when she married Prince Albert.        

Why Queen Victoria?

            Ever since I was a little kid I was fascinated by history. First it was the Revolutionary War, then the French Revolution. In recent years I’ve discovered the Victorian Era. The culture, customs, writers, and people of this era I find endlessly interesting. But I didn’t really know anything about the person that this era was named after, Queen Victoria. Of course I’d heard of her. In school there were really only three English monarchs that anyone talked about: Elizabeth I, Henry VIII, and Victoria. But for some reason Victoria was the one that was always overshadowed.

            I really became intrigued by Queen Victoria when I watched the movie The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend. Being a lover of historical movies, I was completely drawn into the story of Victoria’s journey to power and most importantly her relationship with Prince Albert. All I know about her is based on that movie. She became queen of England at age 18 and is the longest reigning English monarch to date. She married her cousin Prince Albert and they had nine children before Albert died. But is this information and the portrayal of her in the movie accurate? I don’t know. So this is the big question I want to answer while researching her: What was the real Victoria like? Hopefully I’ll find an answer.

What Am I Interested In?

            When I heard that I'm supposed to write a research paper called an I-Search essay my first reaction was "Great a ton of research that's going to take up a lot of time..." and so on. This was followed closely by my second thought which was "What am I going to write about?" I had no clue. What kind of topic can I find that won’t be overly difficult to research but yet interesting to me at the same time? I came up with a few ideas.
            I am fascinated by history, absolutely fascinated. Not enough to pick up a gigantic history book for light reading but I do enjoy it. I’m one of those people who see a historical movie and then immediately become intrigued and slightly obsessed with whatever it was about. So as I sat thinking about what I could research I immediately thought of all the historical movies I’d seen and The Young Victoria sprang into my mind. I absolutely love this movie and it made me want to know more about Queen Victoria and her relationship with Prince Albert in particular.
            Another topic idea I came up with was Italy. I love Italy, always have. If I do end up researching Italy I’ll have to narrow it down to something more specific but it would be a topic that would both interest me and be easier to research.
            These are only a few ideas but hopefully I come up with one that I can’t wait to get started on!