Queen Victoria’s extensive journals offer a unique insight into the private life of the monarch.
Princess Victoria of Kent was just 13 years old when she wrote the first words in her journal, beginning a habit that was to last until the very end of her life.
The diaries are a priceless record of the queen’s daily life and a unique opportunity to understand not only the monarch’s personality, but the times in which she lived. In almost 44,000 pages she describes her meetings with the great and good, the state of the nation and the government of her day. Occupying 141 volumes, through these diaries Queen Victoria’s own words and feelings are revealed. Her journals offer historians, scholars and readers an opportunity to experience Victorian Britain through the eyes of the woman who ruled for more than six decades.
Though posthumously edited by her daughter, Princess Beatrice, at Victoria’s instruction, they remain one of the Victorian era’s most remarkable royal resources.
FIRST ENTRY
When Princess Victoria of Kent received a journal as a gift from her mother, the Duchess of Kent, she was just 13 years old. This was the first line she wrote in what would eventually become more than 140 volumes.
2 August 1832
“This book, Mamma gave me, that I might write the journal of my journey to Wales in it.”
RECEIVING THE PRIME MINISTER
On the morning that 18-year-old Victoria became queen, the prime minister, Lord melbourne, arrived for their first audience. melbourne became a valuable political mentor to the new monarch and the two spent hours together each day. she came to regard him as a father figure, in whom she had utmost trust and respect.
20 June 1837
“At 9 came Lord Melbourne, whom I saw in my room, and of course quite alone as I shall always do all my Ministers. He kissed my hand and I then acquainted him that it had long been my intention to retain him and the rest of the present Ministry at the head of affairs, and that it could not be in better hands than his. He again then kissed my hand. […] I like him very much and feel confidence in him. He is a very straightforward, honest, clever and good man”
A MOVE TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Victoria hadn’t been on the throne for a month before she moved to Buckingham Palace in the company of her mother and her adored dog, Dash. she was the first monarch to make the palace her London residence, establishing the tradition that continues today.
13 July 1837
“I go into Buckingham Palace today. […] am much pleased with my rooms. They are high, pleasant and cheerful. Arranged things. […] I then walked round th garden (which is large and very pretty), with Mamma. Dear Dashy was quite happy in it.”
THE CORONATION
The young queen’s coronation was unlike anything she had seen in her sheltered childhood yet she navigated the complicated traditions with aplomb, unlike the confused Archbishop who conducted them . she retired to bed after midn ight, af ter a day of exhausting yet exhilarating pageantry.
23 June 1838
“I was awoke at four o’clock by the guns in the Park, and could not get much sleep afterwards on account of the noise of the people, bands […] It was a fine day; and the crowds of people exceeded what I have ever seen; many as there were, the day I went to the City, it was nothing – nothing to the multitudes, the millions of my loyal subjects who were assembled in every spot to witness the Procession. Their good-humour and excessive loyalty was beyond everything, and I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such a Nation.”
THE WEDDING NIGHT
Queen Victoria was smitten with Prince Albert from the day they met to the day of his death and beyond, and her account of their wedding night is tender and affectionate. This was no loveless dynastic marriage, but a true case of soulmates.
10 February 1840
“[Albert] clasped me in his arms, and we kissed each other again and again! His beauty, his sweetness and gentleness, really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! […] we both went to bed; (of course in one bed), to lie by his side, and in h s arms, and on his dear bosom, and be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! this was the happiest day of my life! May God help me to do my duty as I ought and be worthy of such blessings!”
THE BIRTH OF A CHILD
Victoria’s first child, a lso named Victoria, was born on 21 november 1840, but she didn’t record the event unt il over a week later. Though she was happy to have safely delivered her firstborn, the child was a girl, not a male heir, a source of some disappointment for the new parents.
1 December 1840
“Baby was on the way and everything was all right. We both expressed joy that the event was at hand, and I did not feel at all nervous. After a good many hours suffering, a perfect little child was born at 2 in the afternoon, but alas! A girl and not a boy, as we both had so hoped and wished for. We were, I am afraid, sadly disappointed, but yet our hearts were full of gratitude, for God having brought me safely through my ordeal, and having such a strong, healthy child.”
THE BIRTH OF AN HEIR
Victoria’s second child was a boy, Edward, born on 9 november 1841. She had finally fulfilled her duty and given the nation an heir, who was swiftly whisked away to be shown off!
9 November 1841
“At last, […] I gave birth to a fine large boy. Oh! how happy, how grateful did I feel to that Almighty Providence Who has so greatly blessed me and preserved me so mercifully through so many dangers and trials. Though tired and shaken, I felt very well, once the child was there. It was taken to the Ministers for them to see, and I only saw it after it was dressed again.”
THE DEATH OF MELBOURNE
The loss of melbourne hit Victoria ha rd. Once her mentor, their correspondence had dwindled over concerns that their friendship might be misconstrued as inappropriate. He resigned as prime minister in 1841 but continued to be active in pol itics for the rest of his days.
25 November 1848
“Saw in the papers that my poor dear friend Lord Melbourne was no more, and that he had breathed his last yesterday. Truly and seriously do I deplore the loss of one who was a most kind […] friend of mine and most sincerely attached to me. He was i ndeed for the first 2 years and a half of my reign almost the only friend […] that I had. I used to see him constantly, daily and now he is no more. I thought much and talked much of him all day.”
LAYING THE BALMORAL FOUNDATION STONE
When the queen laid the foundation stone at Balmoral, it began a relationship with scotland that has endured with the royal family ever since. The castle was completed in 1856 and Victoria adored the sanctuary it offered her.
28 September 1853
“The sun shone brightly for the ceremony of laying the Foundation Stone of the new house […] We walked round to the spot, followed by the whole Household and preceded by McKay, playing the Pipes. We took up our places at the south side of the ston e, where Mr Anderson stood, and offered up an appropriate Prayer and gave the Blessing, I spread the mortar and the stone was lowered, when I struck it with the mallet and declared it well and truly laid. I also poured corn oil and wine upon the corner coppice, and then we left.”
CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The charge of the Light Brigade is one of the most infamous episodes of the crimean War so it’s unsurprising that Victoria would refer to it in her diaries. she was one of thousands in Britain who were discussing the ill-fated charge.
17 January 1855
“[The Light Brigade] charged for 3/4 of a mile, down a hill, fired upon in every direction, from the batteries, taken from th e Turks, and by Rifle men, the only exception being on their flank. In this way they lost many men, before the actual Charge began. They only numbered 700 and the Russian Cavalry, opposed to them, 5000, besides Field Batteries. In spite of this they had sabred all the gunners, 1/2 put the Russian Cavalry into great confusion, killing a great number, so that the Light Brigade was not pursued, as it ought to have been done.”
MEETING THE TROOPS
The returning, wounded soldiers of the crimean War brought the reality of the conflict home to Britain and Queen Victoria was anxious to meet them. she spent the day with casualties, listening to their stories and learning the reality of war.
3 March 1855
“Chatham […] to visit the Military Hospital there. I was anxious to inspect the arrangements made for th e poor suffering men, who have returned from the Crimea. This visit was an intensely interesting, touching, and gratifying one to me, and I wish I could pay constant visits of this kind to the Hospitals and tend and cheer these noble, brave, patient men!”
THE BIRTH OF A GRANDCHILD
Having feared for her daughter’s health throughout her pregnancy, when Vicky gave birth to her first child without incident, the queen was overcome with relief. That little boy grew up to be a monarch himself, as Kaiser Wilhelm II.
“[Vicky’s on going labour] greatly agitated me. After luncheon came the welcome eagerly expected news, in a telegram from Sir J Clark: “All is happily over. The Princess as well as can be, the young Prince also”. […] All the Household, servants, everyone delighted. Ran back to send numberless telegrams, to Berlin and to relations. Wrote a hurried letter to dear Fritz, and afterwards walked down to Frogmore, and found Mama overjoyed. Truly grateful and happy, relieved from a great we ght, which we would not ack nowledge, but which had pressed upon us both from morning till night. God is most merciful to us!”
DEATH OF THE DUCHESS
The Duchess of Kent’s death brought to an end a relationship between mother and daughter that had once been so strained as to be virtually estranged. Long since reconciled, Victoria felt the loss of her surviving parent keenly.
16 March 1861
“The dreaded terrible calamity has befallen us, which seems like an awful dream, from which I cannot recover. My precious darling Mother has been taken from us this morning at 1/2 p. 9, peacefully, painlessly. She breathed her last, my hand holding hers to the last moment. What a blessed end!”
PRINCE ALBERT’S DEATH
Prince Albert’s death on 14 December 1861 had a profound impact on Queen Victoria and she mourned him for the rest of her days, taking on the mantle of a dour-faced monarch, which remains her most enduring public image.
1 January 1862
“Have been unable to write my Journal since the day my beloved one left us, and with what a heavy broken heart I enter on a new year without him! My dreadful and overwhelming calamity gives me so much to do, that I must henceforth merely keep notes of my sad and solitary life.”
MEETING THE SHAH
Though she had hosted glit tering re ceptions for overseas leaders during Albert ’s lifetime, Victoria abandoned them after his death. Her anxiety at welcoming the visiting shah of Persia is therefore not as surprisi ng as it might seem. In fact the shah proved to be a tonic and she delighted in his company.
20 June 1873
“Felt nervous and agitated at the great event of the day, the Shah’s visit […] the Shah was said to be nervous at the meeting with me.”
A FAITHFUL RETAINER
John Brown was Victoria’s faithful servant and became a rock after the death of Albert, never more so than during her periods of ill health. There were plenty of rumours about the queen’s relationship with the scot, including unproven claims of a clandestine marriage!
18 March 1883
“A good night, Dressed on the sofa. Brown so attentive, helping me on and off the sofa.”
LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE
Victoria enjoyed a singular relationship with Abdul Karim, an Indian muslim who joined her staff as a servant and wa s promoted to Indian secretar y, k nown as munshi. He taught the queen urdu and their closeness caused some jealousy among the household.
30 August 1887
“Abdul has returned from India, from his holiday, and I am very glad to have him back and be able to work at my Hindustani again with him.”
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
Sixty years after she came to the throne, Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. For the aging queen it was a time not just of celebration, but of reflection on the years that had passed since she first wore the crown.
20 June 1897
“This eventful day, 1897, has opened and I pray God to help and protect me as He has hitherto done during these 60 long eventful years! […] How well I remember this day 60 years ago when I was called from my bed by dear Mama to receive the news of my accession.”
FINAL ENTRY
Queen Victoria’s last entry is that of a woman in her dotage. After spending the day with family she laid down her pen and, stricken by ill health, never picked it up again. She died on 22 January, aged 81, and laid to rest beside her beloved Albert in the Frogmore mausoleum.
13 January 1901
“Had a fair night, but was a little wakeful. Got up earlier and had some milk. Lenchen came and read some papers. Out before 1, in the garden chair, Lenchen and Beatrice going with me. Rested a little, had some food, and took a short drive with Lenchen and Beatrice. Rested when I came in and at 5.30, went down to the Drawing room, where a short service was held, by Mr Clement Smith, who performed it so well, and it was a great comfort to me. Rested again afterwards, then did some signing and dictated to Lenchen.”