Queens of England

Queen Victoria

His reign was the longest and the most glorious in the history of Great Britain, Victoria I represent with majesty the british greatness. In sixty-four year reign, Britain has escaped the wars and revolutions, but its evolution contrasts with that of other European countries.

I] Childhood, accession to the throne and first years of power. (1819-1840)

Born : on May 24, 1819.  

Dynasty : Hanoverian granddaughter of George III, but she is only fifth in succession to the throne, and that's only because uncles have no legitimate heirs that the crown belongs.

Circumstance: in 1837, the prestige of the monarchy is lowermost.

Her goal : to serve the good of the State, to lead a wise life and to introduce to the Court of strict rules of decency and respectability.

→ she restores the dignity and prestige of the monarchy lost for generations.
What she represents for peoples : Youth , grace , fragility

One of the great politics merits of Victoria was, winning the attachment of his subjects, to set up a monarchy in England still present today.

II] Mariage with Albert (1840) and the beginning of the extraordinary popularity

(1851-1861)

marriage : 1840 with his cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819-1861)

a love marriage, inaugurates a happy and dignified family life

→ example of a united household, virtuous , fruitful

→ the popularity of the monarchy increases quickly.

Victoria follows all business, gives her point of view at each occasion , proceed with great care all appointments dependent of the crown ( army, navy, church , court functions , House of Lords ).

For the choice of ministers , senior officials , ambassadors, who depend on the Prime Minister , she informed her feelings without restraint.

III]Widowhood and return to the stage of political life . (1861-1886)

death of her husband: disconsolate , Victoria retreats into widowhood.

→, she doesn't make a public appearance and completely abandons London

during ten years.

→ she continues to treat all internal and external affairs of the kingdom.

In a first time, the english respect her widowhood but with time they don't approve this situation and they criticize her.

Victoria resumed public life , at the opening of Parliament in 1866 .

IV] The queen and her Munshi

Karim arrived in England in 1887. He ntroduced curry to the royal menu and started teaching her to speak Urdu, offering lessons every evening.

Still, many in the royal court were unhappy with Karim's constant presence.

The courtiers' resentment came to a head in 1889 when the Queen spent the night with her munshi at Glassalt Shiel, the isolated Scottish cottage she had once shared with John Brown but vowed never again to visit after he died.

Although it appears to have been platonic, he was 26 and she 70, so eyebrows would have been raised.

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