INCONSOLABLE MAJESTY Jessica Edwards House of Hanover House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 2 DRAMATIS PERSONAE Queen Victoria – Queen of United Kingdom and Ireland, Head of the Church of England Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha - Prince Consort Victoria and Albert’s children: Princess Victoria (Vicky), Princess Royal (born 1840) Prince Albert (Bertie), Prince of Wales, later: King Edward VII (born 1841) Princess Alice (born 1843) Prince Alfred (born 1844) Princess Helena (born 1846) Princess Louise (born 1848) Prince Arthur (born 1850) Prince Leopold (born 1853) Princess Beatrice (born 1857) Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn – Queen Victoria’s father, son of George III Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Duchess of Kent – Queen Victoria’s mother Sir John Ponsonby Conroy, 1st Baronet – Former Consort to the Duchess of Kent from 1817 - 1837 Baroness Louise Lehzen – Queen Victoria’s governess, advisor and companion from 1827 to 1841 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (Palmerston) – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1855-1858, 1859-1865) Leopold I of Belgium (Uncle Leopold) Christian Friedrich Baron Stockmar (Stockmar) Dr William Baly - Queen Victoria’s appointed physician in 1859, in succession to Dr Clark Sir James Clark (Dr. Clark) - Queen Victoria’s appointed physician in 1837 Sir William Jenner (Dr. Jenner) - Queen Victoria’s appointed physician in 1861, in succession to Dr Baly Jane Alexander, Countess of Caledon (Jane) – lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria Rev. Dr. Goodford - Vicar 3 INCONSOLABLE MAJESTY A Short Historical Novel about Queen Victoria Including extracts from the Court Circular and Queen Victoria’s diaries and letters I heard a sound by night that chilled my blood And smote upon each sense; And as I hurried by I sudden stood In listening most intense. Lord Rosslyn, 14th December 1861 4 1861 To rule over a great nation is a matter of strategy and passion. A monarch must have the skill to win both the trust of Parliament and the affections of the people. The prejudice that came with my rise to the throne as a Queen was tedious to overcome. The last woman to grace the throne was Queen Anne, who reigned over a hundred years previously. But she did not fulfil her duty as queen and child bearer, for she failed to produce an heir. Poor woman! She lost no fewer than seventeen children, whether through miscarriage or death in early childhood. Because of this Parliament found itself obliged to ask the related House of Hanover to take over the throne; the alternative of a Catholic descendant of James II would surely have ended in bloody strife. I have not always had my way as ruler of this country. Yet it is a glorious nation and I am filled with satisfaction that during my reign it has prospered greatly. After twenty-two years on the throne, I realise how ruling has awakened in me a motherly care for my people that I never knew existed. Running a family is another matter though, which in truth I find to be more demanding. As my dearest husband Albert never fails to remind me, there is indeed room to improve in the performance of my duties as a wife and a mother. Even after bearing four sons and five daughters, I struggle to make conversation with my children. Their minds work so differently - they find excitement in the most humdrum things, whereas activities that are truly fulfilling seem dull to them. They address me as a common woman, rather than as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and the defender of the faith. I enjoyed little freedom as a child, being oppressed by my own mother and by her cruel advisor Sir John Conroy. Yet I believe that this strict upbringing was for my good and I shall certainly not pamper my own children. They must grow to maturity knowing their destiny as future Kings and Queens of Europe. It is their special duty to ensure that blue blood of the House of 5 Hanover flows through the veins of Europe’s Rulers. Albert rightly takes great interest in protecting the reputation of the Royal Family. He has taught me to value the morals of our court, domestic harmony and the good education of our children. My beloved Albert! I doubt that any woman can have greater love for her husband than I. We have been married for almost twenty years and I confess that my wretched self has become the better through our union. Bless him! Since the birth of our last daughter Beatrice in 1857 my temper has improved greatly, as Albert himself tells me. Oh, how I wish I could be a better wife to him, for he is so good to me. What would I do without him? I pray to God that he may outlive me, for I believe I would die of grief without him. That is something I dare not contemplate. 6 JANUARY 1861 I once overheard a chattering maid say that a cold wind blowing from East on New Year’s Eve predicted a loved-one’s death. The children present gasped in horror and I demanded her to refrain from such profane gossip. Then one day the maid was gone and no one could tell me why she left or where she went. But even now, as the New Year begins, I remember her foolish superstition. I refuse to believe such nonsense, of course, but must confess to crossing my fingers and praying secretly for God’s protection. This morning we attend the New Year’s Day church service in St George's Chapel. Albert and I, arm in arm, lead the way, with the rest of our family and retinue behind us. I declare we are a handsome couple: Albert - tall and military in bearing, with a neatly trimmed beard - and I – though perhaps not beautiful – yet of pleasing countenance and great decorum. For twenty years now, we have shared the unimaginable joy of each other’s company. For all his great abilities, Albert seems content to be the consort of one blessed with fewer talents than he. But time is my enemy and I must witness the signs of aging, with a new wrinkle or grey hair appearing almost daily. I fear the strains of motherhood are taking their toll upon my health and complexion. I myself had an unhappy childhood. My father, the Duke of Kent and youngest son of King George III, died when I was but a few months old, making me first in line to the throne. As a child, I had no brothers or sisters to play with and no friends. I was even kept away from the Royal Court so from a young age I learnt to entertain myself. I was raised in Kensington Palace by my mother, the Duchess of Kent and her confidante Sir John Conroy. They saw me only as a source of power and never as a lonely child. They developed a plan called the Kensington System which would have made my mother regent and Sir John Conroy her advisor when I 7 came to the throne. But they did not succeed in their intentions and when I was crowned Queen, I had Sir John removed from my sight. In retrospect, I believe I was my mother’s most prized treasure, for without me she would have been nothing. As a child, she never let me out of her sight, saying that she knew what was best for me. But I never believed her. I now know that it was just her method to coerce me into doing what she and that horrid Sir John wanted. She never loved me as a mother should. She was the lover, servant and puppet of Sir John, but no mother to me. I never felt the luxury of a mother’s affection and it is thanks to these circumstances of my childhood that I am the person – and Queen - I am today. The weather has not improved greatly since last night’s storm and the heavy clouds in the sky are pressing down on us. Albert seems lost in thought, having said nothing since we left the palace. Perhaps he is feeling unwell since he is still recovering from a gastric attack. Finding myself unable to engage in conversation, I reflect upon what we represent as leaders of this family, kingdom, empire and church. I imagine how we must appear through the eyes of the spectators who throng the streets; two magnificent, untouchable, almost divine creatures, moving and acting as one soul. How privileged I feel to have such a man at my side. My thoughts are interrupted by a shriek from behind, followed by a baby’s cry. In my irritation I turn abruptly, but with a squeeze of the hand Albert gently reminds me to preserve my composure. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that Princess Louise has once again pinched her little sister and her maid is desperately trying to placate them both. ‘Oh, that naughty girl, Louise!’ I whisper. ‘She is putting herself in the centre of attention again. I doubt I shall ever see the day when she learns modesty. It is as if she were destined to be rebellious.’ 8 Since Albert does not reply, I continue: ‘Well you must agree with me, darling! No man will ever be foolish enough to marry her if she continues to behave like this. Were she not blessed with such an agreeable countenance, I highly doubt that I could tolerate her.’ Albert frowns, not looking at me and I do not know whether his annoyance is caused by Louise’s behaviour or my comment in return.