Discovering the secret life of Queen Victoria since 2018
Like themselves, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert wanted their children to marry for love, as well as convenience. However, before their eldest child, Princess Victoria, had even left the schoolroom, it was decided that she would marry Prince Friedrich of Prussia, who was nine years her senior! The two first met in 1851 when Friedrich… Continue reading The courtship and engagement of Victoria, Princess Royal and Prince Friedrich of Prussia
“Dearest Uncle, -I hasten to announce to you that yesterday our dear young couple here were engaged, and that we are all very happy. Louis was spoken to yesterday on our return from Aldershot by Albert, who told him he would have an opportunity of speaking to Alice and this opportunity he took last night… Continue reading Letter from Queen Victoria to King Leopold I Of Belgium on the engagement of Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse
Princess Helena and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, dated December 1865©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “These days 4 years ago, were all dreadfully anxious ones, & they are ever present to my mind. — Walked & drove will Lenchen, going to the Mausoleum. — Saw Mr Gladstone, who gave me a paper… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The engagement of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, 5th December 1865.
Victoria and Friedrich in March 1863 ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “My dearest Uncle,—I profit by your own messenger to confide to you, and to you alone, begging you not to mention it to your children, that our wishes on the subject of a future marriage for Vicky have been realised… Continue reading Letter from Queen Victoria to her uncle Leopold I, King of Belgium, 22nd September 1855, on the engagement of Princess Victoria.
Despite going against normal tradition, Victorias role as the monarch meant that she had to propose to her future husband. In October 1839, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha returned to Britain to visit his cousin, the Queen. From their births in 1819, a match between the two had been plotted by their mutual family… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: Her engagement to Prince Albert, 15th October 1839
Princess Victoria and Prince Fredrick ©️ Royal Collection Trust / HM King Charles III “My dear Lord Clarendon,— The Queen wishes me to send you the enclosed letters, with the request that they may be sent by messengers to Coblentz. I may tell you in the strictest confidence that Prince Frederic William has yesterday laid… Continue reading Letter from Prince Albert to the Earl of Clarendon, 21st September 1855, on the engagement of Princess Victoria.
On 3rd October 1870, Princess Louise, fourth daughter and sixth child of Queen Victoria, got engaged to John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne at Balmoral. Princess Louise and John CampbellSource: Wikipedia “A fine morning, after frost, & the sky as cloudless as yesterday. — Walked a little & sat out reading & writing. — Jane C.… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The engagement of Princess Louise and John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, 3rd October 1870
On 29th September 1855, Victoria, Princess Royal, and Prince Frederick of Prussia (later Frederick III, Empror of Germany and King of Prussia) became engaged at Balmoral. From left to right: Prince Friedrich of Prussia, Princess Victoria, Prince Alfred (seated on the grass), Princess Alice, Princess Helena, Queen Victoria, Princess Louise, Prince Albert and Prince Albert… Continue reading Queen Victoria’s journal: The engagement of Victoria, Princess Royal, to Prince Friedrich of Prussia, 29th September 1855