Women, Power and Politics: Queen Victoria

Diamond and Golden Jubilee

Huge celebrations of British monarchy and Empire - seen as the same. Plays a role in what it meant to be British. Sense of her being the leader of the empire. Commercial celebration - put Victoria's face on everything. Beginning of commercial monarchy - beginning of modern consumerism? Diamond jubilee is where we see her decline begin.

What did Victoria's queenship create for her initially?

Relied more on influence than power, stemmed from her ability to cultivate the people's respect despite their unease with a woman on the throne, which she did by relying on instinct and emotion to guide her decisions, as her culture expected women to do, rather than the logic and intellect culturally associated with men.

Queen Victoria's Cultural Impact

Society was obsessed with monarchy as a political institution and was interested in it as a cultural concept. Victoria and her family were seen as celebrities figures, of public interest. The public was obsessed with Victoria because she presented a particular problem - she was an anomaly because she was a women, who had no political voices at this time, and she was not given a political voice, yet she was the head of the country. The question was what to do with a female monarch. First few years of reign she was unmarried, which was seen as a big problem.

What was Victoria like at a young age?

Strong-willed, intelligent, emotionally sensitive, lonely, with a fierce temper kept firmly in check, the young Victoria had a deep sense of duty and obligation instilled in her by Lehzen, and also a profound sense of propriety.

Victoria's Birth and Birth Right

Victoria: born 1819 to the Duke (George III's fourth son) and Duchess of Kent. Only legitimate heir. Father dies when she is a few months old, brought up by her mother, the German princess. Royal court was fractious around Duchess of Kent - she was isolated and somewhat disliked. She was kept separate from royal family - but it was a tense and close relationship.

A moderate republican's view of the monarchy, 1872

political nullity, embodiment of the status quo, a potent symbol - but just that.

How long did Queen Victoria rule for?

64 years

Response to becoming Queen

"I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty towards my country; I am very young and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am sure, that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I have." Girlhood, 1.196.

Gladstone on the Monarchy

By 1870, Gladstone doubted whether the monarchy could survive, stating that the queens influence "dwindles" as time goes on. He was not alone in these thoughts, as rising thoughts of republicanism emerged.

Reign

1837 - 1901 (18 at time of her reign beginning)

Bedchamber Crisis

1839 - Lord Melbourne's government was defeated in parliament, Melbourne was forced to resign. Protocol meant that the Monarch asks someone to form a new government. Victoria calls on Sir Robert Peele, whose relationship wasn't as strong with her. Victoria said she would not change her household staff to reflect the government. Peele says no. Peele can't form a government - so Victoria invites Melbourne back. This was a symbolic moment in the history of the monarchy - Victoria being a hysterical teenager OR a monarch testing the boundaries of her political power before public outcry is too loud.

The Great Exhibition

1851 World's first industrial fair. Held at the Crystal Palace, 100,000 exhibits. Albert who is normally credited with being the driving force behind the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and plate-glass structure built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition. It was three times the size of St Paul's Cathedral, and cost 2 million at the time. Although the original aim of the world fair had been as a celebration of art in industry for the benefit of All Nations, in practice it appears to have been turned into more of a showcase for British manufacturing: more than half the 100,000 exhibits on display were from Britain or the British Empire. Six million people passed through those crystal doors. The event proved to be the most successful ever staged and became one of the defining points of the nineteenth century.

Lady Flora Hastings Crisis

A member of the Duchess of Kent's household - Lady in Waiting. Prominent Tory family. In 1839 - rumours circulating that she had fallen pregnant - gossip was bad, Victoria's court is meant to be moral. Orders that Hastings has a medical examination - controversial decision, it was without consent - she had stomach cancer. Popular outcry against Victoria, especially as she died soon after.

Initial Queenship Period

Apprehension and anxiety about her reign. Not widespread popular support. Soon, however, she was praised and admired in her reign's honeymoon months, Victoria blossomed in her new role and threw herself with energy into learning her profession, and into the novel social whirl of balls, theatre, opera, dinners, and confidential chats with the attentive Melbourne. For the first time in more than three generations Britain had a young monarch and a lively court.

When did Albert die?

December 1861

Albert's Role

In 1850 Albert summed up his interpretation of his position to the duke of Wellington: he was 'the natural head of her family, superintendent of her household, manager of her private affairs, sole confidential adviser in politics, and only assistant in her communications with the officers of the Government, ... the private secretary of the sovereign and her permanent minister.'

When did Queen Victoria Die?

January 1901

Queen Victoria's Early Life/Influences

Louise Lehzen - Lehzen, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor from Hanover, was among Victoria's most important formative influences, setting herself in opposition to Conroy and the duchess, whom she considered weak. Lehzen's ideal of a queen was Queen Elizabeth I, and she gave Victoria a sense of the importance of strength of will. From 1830 onwards the duchess and Conroy implemented what was termed the 'Kensington system'. Their aim was to ensure that Victoria was totally dependent on them, and would not look to others for advice when she came to the throne. Her reign was to be based around morals of the enlightenment, to avoid the drinking and gambling seen under the George's.

Grandmother of Europe

Marries off her offspring to princes and princesses - wide expanse. Influence in diplomacy of Europe.

Lord Melbourne

Melbourne (William Lamb) became a significant figure in Victoria's life, possibly because she had a lack of a father figure in her life, she is suggested to have seen Melbourne in this fatherly role. Melbourne's constant attendance on the queen and his obvious affection for her earned her the nickname Mrs Melbourne. By the end of the first year of her reign the tories considered Victoria 'the queen of the whigs'. Attacks on the government began to include attacks on the queen; she came to view the tories as her enemies and clung even more closely to Melbourne.

Disreali and Gladstone

Politics during Victoria's mourning was dominated by Benjamin Disraeli (she likes) and William Gladstone (she hates). Disraeli flatters Victoria. Gladstone talks at her - very principled, looking to change Britain - doesn't interest Victoria. Disraeli pulls Victoria out of her mourning phase into public life. 1870s/80s - Victoria is having a role in domestic and foreign policy. Disraeli makes Victoria Empress of India - meaningless title but she liked it. Imperial titles were iffy with the public.

Legacy in India

Queen Victoria had a huge role in the promotion of the empire, particularly with regards to India, which she had a large fascination with. The ceremony where she was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877 is one such event which promoted imperial activity, and was an elaborate demonstration of the wealth and superiority of the British empire. Victoria's impact on India was very hard to ignore, with statues erected of her in Bombay as well as a memorial hall dedicated to her in Calcutta. Hundreds of public buildings such as schools, hospitals, colleges, parks, libraries and factories were created to honour the Queen, granting her a long-lasting legacy in India.

Albert's Death

The devastation Albert's death caused in his widow is the strongest evidence of his part in forming her character. That she loved him went without saying; but the dependence he had created in her left her unprotected and helpless at his death. Victoria stays in mourning until her own death. Full mourning - a retreat from public life, wear head to toe black - revives lace industry because she wore so much black lace. Retreats almost entirely. Revival of republicanism in Britain - she is absent, lots of literature on how expensive they are and what they are getting in return. Criticise what she did have control over - eg. Her political neutrality. Criticising increases for her not being British. Still plausible to get rid of Monarchs. Threat to the monarchy - politicians argue that she needs to act.

19th Century Monarchy

The monarchy was perceived to be a performance as much as an institution. The symbolic power of the monarchy was greatly enhanced. The duty of the monarchs was mainly ornamental. With the introduction of mass media, it was easier to get images across the world, which was untrue for previous monarchs.

Historiography of Bedchamber Crisis

The political and constitutional issues associated with this event have long been treated as a matter of curiosity, and modern historians have been amused at the extent which contemporaries apparently viewed the choice of the Queen's daily companions as a matter of such gravity that it could bring down governments. It cannot be an event that is dismissed, nor is it of cardinal constitutional importance. It did raise several constitutional questions and political matters which contemporaries regarded as important.

Victoria's Death

The vast majority of her subjects had never known a time when Queen Victoria had not been reigning over them. She had become an indissoluble part of their whole scheme of things, and that they were about to lose her appeared a scarcely possible thought.

Victoria and Albert

The years between 1840 and 1861 have often been described as a period of 'dual monarchy': Albert took on the executive, deliberative role, while Victoria took the more dignified part (to use Bagehot's term) and provided legitimacy for Albert's executive.

What was the response to the crises?

These crises show that having a single woman on the throne was really bad - her government wanted her to marry. Suitable husbands were in short supply - had to be royal and bits of European royalty which are theologically similar - eg. he had to be a minor royal that had status and a protestant that wouldn't mind marrying a Queen - a secondary role. These two crises that took place link closely - it reveals about the fashion in which morality, propriety and respectability could be used as potent political weapons at the beginning of Victoria's reign. It highlights wider issues with court propriety.

Prince Albert on the moral responsibility of the monarchy, 1850

Took a great deal of interest in learning about how the english crown worked, understanding the theory of monarchy. Wanted to win over parliament.

Victoria's Changes under Melbourne

Under Melbourne she had developed from an isolated, quietly rebellious child into an eager, imperious young woman. She had thoroughly established her independence from her mother and her mother's agents: by 1841 she was beginning to forgive the duchess of Kent for her childhood, and to establish a more amicable relationship with her. Albert's arrival at her side in 1840 ensured that the lessons of her early errors did not go unheeded.

Victoria's Response to Melbourne's Resignation

Victoria was appalled. 'All, ALL my happiness gone', she keened to her journal. 'That happy peaceful life destroyed, that dearest kind Lord Melbourne no more my minister'