So what's the scoop on her ? I have watched Mrs.Brown and The Young Victoria. I know she was raised by her mother and her secretary Sir.John Something who was controlling. She had to hold hands to go down the steps, share a room with her mother till she became queen at 18 ?. She married her first cousin ? Had lots of kids and the entire European royalty is related through her.
Any books to recommend ? Any documentaries ? Any series ? I really find her fascinating because of the childhood, becoming queen at a young age, large family, actually ruled a huge empire.
TIA !
Princess Victoria met her cousin Prince Albert at a very young age. They met several times throughout their childhood and teens. Prince Albert
Francis Charles was born at Schloss Rosenau, in Bavaria. He was the younger son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
He married his cousin, Queen Victoria in 1840 and was unpopular with some and parliament did not want to grant him what Victoria believed was a suitable allowance. Both Victoria and Albert seem to have been headstrong and impassioned, keen to direct the marriage on their own terms and for about two decades they appear to have had a very public contest for control.
Albert never had great public popularity during Victoria's reign; however he used his influence with discretion and intelligence. He took an active interest in the arts, science, trade, and industry. He masterminded the Great Exhibition of 1851, to celebrate the great advances of the British industrial age, the expansion of the empire, and then used the profits to help to launch the South Kensington museum complex in London. It wasn't until 1857 that he was officially recognized by the nation and awarded the title 'prince consort'.
The marriage appears to have been based on support, trust, and fidelity and produced nine children. Eight of Victoria's children married into other European royal families and sat on the thrones of Europe, those of Great Britain, Prussia, Greece, Romania, Russia, Norway, Sweden and Spain earning Queen Victoria the moniker ‘Grandmother of Europe’.
1. Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Princess Royal married Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia the Future Emperor of Prussia.
2. Albert Edward Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Rothesay. He became the Prince of Wales married Princess Alexandra of Denmark and became King Edward VII
3. Alice Maud Mary married Prince Ludwig of Hesse who went on to become the Grand Duke Louis XIV
4. Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha married Marie Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess, Russia
5. Helena Augusta Victoria married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
6. Louise Caroline Alberta Duchess of Saxony married John Campbell, Duke of Argyll, and Marquis of Lorne
7. Arthur William Patrick, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn married Duchess Louise Margaret of Prussia
8. Leopold George Duncan, Duke of Albany married Princess Helena Frederica of Waldeck and Pyrmont
9. Beatrice Mary Victoria married Prince Henry of Battenberg