Queen Victoria follows the monarch from her sheltered childhood and accession in 1837 through a reign that became closely identified with nineteenth-century Britain. It examines her marriage to Prince Albert, family life, relations with successive prime ministers and the changing role of the Crown as Britain industrialised and expanded its empire. The book also considers Victoria’s long widowhood and the public image that helped make her a symbol of an era.
Victoria’s reign also illustrates the monarchy’s adaptation to constitutional government. Her preferences could influence ministers, appointments and family diplomacy, but elected politics increasingly limited direct royal intervention. The long widowhood and later imperial image show how personal behaviour, ceremony and public visibility became crucial tools for maintaining monarchical authority in a rapidly changing society.
Saul David
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Adrian Goldsworthy
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Alison Weir
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Peter Ackroyd
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