Victoria's 40 year mourn

Victoria and Albert with their nine children

Victorian was a remarkable queen not only has she had the longest reign of any queen but she also was the queen of one of the most changing era's like the expansion of the British Empire.

Victoria married young at 21 to her first cousin Albert on February 1840, she actually was the one that proposed which of course is unusual but Victoria of course was already a powerful women having already been in her reign as the Queen before marrying Albert. In the last couple of years Victorias diary was released and her writings of her wedding day & night were publish.

"My dearest dearest dear Albert sat on a footstall by my side, and his excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness, I never could have hoped to have felt before! 

"He 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!"

  An Extract from her Diary 

So much love was there.. Victoria & Albert went on to have 9 children. You can see the clear wealth divide in the fact Victoria had so many children, living children. 3 died whilst Victoria was alive but she was survived by 6 children, 40 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren WOW.

Victoria and Albert were married for twenty-one years in total until Alberts death on December 14th 1861. Albert had stomach issues causing him immense pain; first alerted in the august of 1859 when he was taken seriously ill with stomach cramps. Even until his death Albert was taking on duties including a lot of the queens as she lost her mum earlier on in the year and was deeply upset. Albert was diagnosed at the time just before his death with typhoid fever though many have pointed out he was infact ill for two years this might of indicated cancer or even crohn's disease.

Victorian like any grieving wife took the news of Albert dying badly in fact she became isolated in fact so much that the republication party became more popular due to the monachys popularity falling  over time. The queens priority had become mourning Albert, it honestly makes me sad researching about Victoria and Albert because she was so devoted to him. 

As we know Victoria's were big on death they were superstitious and also very interesting in the other side, to mourn Albert Victoria had many statues of Albert made; Such as the Albert memorial in Kensington gardens. A beautiful salute to Albert with his golden statue. 

The Memorial was completed in 1876, 15 years after Alberts Death

                 http://www.travelsignposts.com/London/sightseeing/albert-memorial-london

Many questioned Victorias sanity over time, she would instruct her servants to bring hot water to Alberts dressing room for his morning shave, The servants also had to dress in black for a number of years after his death.  Victoria was nicknamed the "Widow of Windsor" (Albert died at Windsor Castle) Mostly due to Victoria wearing black for the rest of her life. 

Of course Victoria had her country, her family even grandchildren a little later on but there is is a massive tragedy in losing Albert so early almost, surviving another forty years without the man who was clearly her rock. Yes maybe she did loose her sanity slightly in the loss; I certainly would if the father of my nine children died at 41.

I can't end this post on such a negative about Victoria after Alberts death and the first few years of over coming the initial mourning, Victoria increased the British Empire. The woman was nearly assassinated twice by mad men, she was solid. Victoria also had a close friendship with scotsman John Brown he was her person servant there were great speculation of Victoria's relationship with him. Maybe they loved each other after all Albert had died and Victoria was still a young women, 40 years alone? maybe not, but its clear Albert was mourned every day by Victoria with her dressing. Victoria would never recover from loosing him.

Victoria herself died at the old age of 81 at Osborne House in the Isle of Wight. Victoria is buried beside Albert in the mausoleum Albert designed at Frogmore Gardens 

Together again

http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-weddings/british-royal-weddings/wedding-of-queen-victoria-and-albert-of-saxe-coburg-and-gotha/

In the clip below its really interesting to actually be about to watch her funeral procession, being 1901 film was a recent thing as it was first starting to develop in the 1890's.