Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria’s 64 year reign was one of the most influential in Britain’s history. She had weak political standing, she was prominent in public life, and was a love person in her private life. But following the death of her beloved Albert, Queen Victoria became a different person. Her power as Queen became stronger, she secluded herself from public life, and became more bitter and resentful towards her children. The death of Prince Albert had a profound impact on Queen Victoria and her reign.

During their marriage, Prince Albert had the upper hand when it came to political involvement. Because of her numerous pregnancies, Victoria was forced to step aside, and give the majority of her political power to Albert. Prince Albert served as an important political adviser to Victoria. He served as her private secretary and principal adviser. It was because of Victoria’s and Albert’s teamwork that the monarchy remained so popular. Victoria became very dependent on him. She hated politics, so left Albert to deal with the issues. Albert was accepted as a necessary and useful part of the mechanism of the State. He was a permanent member of the government. Politicians came and went, but the Prince was perpetually installed at the centre of affairs. After Albert’s death, Queen Victoria’s political standing dropped drastically. She now had to take on this work without the assistance of her husband. She didn’t know how to handle her new found political independence, and felt she had no one to turn because her husband was the only one she could speak to as an equal. Yet, she carried on. Her desire to be an outstanding monarch overrode her mourning. All other emotions gave way before her overmastering determination to continue as sovereign. Th...

... middle of paper ...

...ss for the utter darkness and woe. At times, the Queen wouldn’t burst into unexpected tears and be overcome with depression. The once happy and loving Queen, had now turned hard with grief. She blamed Bertie for his father’s death because of the embarrassment he bestowed upon Albert. Victoria wrote about Bertie in her diary saying, “I never can or shall look at him without a shudder.” Victoria became fixated on her children’s happenings following Albert’s death. She would hire spies to watch after her them. Victoria disapproved of everything her children did, often calling them out on their wrongdoings. The would-be grand affair of the marriage between the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra was lessened to a quiet affair and a depressing event because of the Queen’s disapproval. She became controlling and overbearing, making her children dispise her even more.