5 Facts You Always Wanted To Know About… Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years and 7 months, left a lasting mark on British history.
Her reign, from 1837 until her death in 1901, was one of unprecedented industrial, cultural, and political change. The Victorian era, named in her honour, is often remembered for its rigid morals, imperial expansion, and rapid growth in industry.
But beyond her status as a powerful monarch, Victoria’s personal life and legacy reveal a more complex and (surprisingly) human figure.
Let’s explore some lesser-known facts about this extraordinary queen.
1. Queen Victoria proposed to her husband, Prince Albert
Queen Victoria broke tradition in many ways, one of the most notable being her proposal to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
In an era when it was typical for the man to “pop the question”, Victoria, as queen, had to take the initiative. As a monarch she could not be proposed to, meaning that despite their deep affection for each other, Albert was unable to ask for her hand in marriage. Victoria, ever pragmatic, took matters into her own hands and proposed to Albert in October 1839, which he accepted.
Their wedding, held on 10th February 1840, is another aspect of her influence that remains today.
Victoria popularised the white wedding dress, now a tradition for brides around the world. Before her, brides typically wore their best dress, which was often colourful. Victoria’s choice of white was seen as a statement of purity, and it quickly became the norm.
But their marriage was about more than setting trends — it was a genuine love match.
Despite the political alliances that often accompanied royal unions, Victoria and Albert shared a deep bond. After Albert’s untimely death from typhoid fever in 1861, Victoria famously mourned him for the rest of her life, wearing black for the remaining 40 years of her reign and withdrawing from much of public life.
2. Victoria was more German than English
Although she is often remembered as the quintessential British monarch, Queen Victoria’s roots were firmly planted in German soil.
Born to Edward, Duke of Kent (the fourth son of King George III) and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, she was predominantly of German descent. Her mother’s strong influence ensured that Victoria’s first language was German, which she spoke fluently throughout her life. In fact, she often corresponded in German with her relatives across Europe.
Victoria’s marriage to Albert further strengthened these ties.
Albert’s influence introduced several German customs into the British royal household, one of the most enduring being the tradition of having a Christmas tree. Before Albert’s time, Christmas trees were not common in British homes. However, Albert brought this German custom to England, and it quickly became popular throughout the country.
Even today, the British royal family continues some of these traditions, such as opening presents on Christmas Eve, in the German style, rather than on Christmas Day.
3. Victoria was not fond of babies
Despite being the mother of nine children, Queen Victoria was not particularly enamoured with babies — or the process of childbirth (and who can blame her, really?).
She once described giving birth as “the shadow side of marriage” and found her pregnancies burdensome. Even after her children were born, she didn’t particularly enjoy spending time with them during their infancy (post-partum depression, anyone?). In her diaries, she referred to her newborns as “frogs” because of their appearance and openly admitted that she didn’t like babies.
Victoria’s distance from her children during their early years was typical of many royal households. She had them raised in a separate wing of the palace and delegated much of their early care to nannies and governesses. Her relationships with her children improved as they grew older, but her lack of maternal affection during their early years left a notable mark on her family dynamics.
4. The phrase “We are not amused” may not have been said
One of the most famous phrases attributed to Queen Victoria is the stern “We are not amused.”
Yet, despite its frequent association with her, there is no historical record of Victoria ever saying these words. The phrase became part of popular lore and was widely associated with her, likely due to her formal and serious public image. Victoria’s reputation for being strict and humourless was largely shaped by the media and societal expectations of the time.
However, personal accounts from those closest to her suggest that she had a lively sense of humour (What? A German with a sense of humour? Shocker!) and could be quite warm with her friends and family (you know, once her kids had stopped looking like frogs). The phrase’s enduring popularity is perhaps more a reflection of how the public viewed the Victorian era, rather than the queen herself.
This famous saying has since become a cultural reference, even making its way into modern media. In the Doctor Who episode “Tooth and Claw” for instance, Rose Tyler repeatedly attempts to get Queen Victoria to say the phrase (eventually succeeding!).
5. Victoria, the “Grandmother of Europe”
Queen Victoria’s far-reaching influence on European royal families earned her the nickname “Grandmother of Europe”.
Her nine children married into various royal families across the continent, creating a vast network of alliances that extended Victoria’s influence beyond Britain. Through these strategic marriages, Victoria’s descendants spread across Europe, with many current European monarchs tracing their lineage back to her. One notable example being the late Queen Elizabeth II, who, along with her late husband Prince Philip, was a great-great-grandchild of Victoria.
This complex web of interrelated royal families played a significant role in European politics, and it has been argued that these familial connections contributed to the complex alliances that led to the First World War, which is sometimes called The Cousins’ War.
The infamous shared bloodlines of Europe’s royal houses continue to shape monarchies today. Victoria’s legacy as the “Grandmother of Europe” reflects not only her direct influence on her family but also her lasting impact on European politics and society.
From her uncommon proposal to Prince Albert to her complicated relationship with motherhood, Victoria’s life continues to fascinate historians and the public alike.
These five lesser-known facts paint a more nuanced picture of a queen who, though often seen as distant and severe, was just as human in her likes, loves and losses as you and me.
