Do you know a 21-year-old woman? Cement her firmly in your mind. Now imagine her marrying the love of her life, who’s the same age. Nine months later, their first child arrives. Over the next 16 years, she gives birth to eight more children while also managing a successful and important career. After 21 years of a happy marriage, her husband dies at the age of 42, when their children range in age from four to 20. She mourns her husband for the rest of her life and never remarries.
By now, if you know your history, you’ll know that all of this happened to Queen Victoria, whose birthday we commemorate this long weekend. Isn’t it hard to imagine all this happening to a woman today? I thought I’d investigate what became of those nine children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (who were first cousins. Not uncommon among the royals in their day.)
Princess Royal Victoria (1840–1901). Nicknamed “Vicky” and given her title of “Princess Royal” at the age of one, she married Prince Frederick William of Prussia. Following his death, Vicky lived as empress dowager before her death from breast cancer at age 60.
Prince Edward VII (1841–1910). Given the title of Prince of Wales, he became King upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. Reigning for only nine years, he was known as a peacemaker for fostering good relations with foreign powers. His son King George V succeeded him.
Princess Alice (1843–1878). Known for her nursing, she befriended Florence Nightingale and played an active role in military hospitals. Alice died from diphtheria in 1878, the first of three of Queen Victoria’s children to be outlived by their mother.
Prince Alfred (1844–1900) joined the Royal Navy at age 14 and obtained the rank of Admiral in 1893. He married Maria Alexandrovna, the daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia.
Princess Helena (1846–1923) Highly engaged in charitable institutions and a founding member of the British Red Cross, she married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein.
Princess Louise (1848–1939) was 13 when her father died. She pursued a career as a sculptor and became a strong advocate of higher education and the feminist cause.
Prince Arthur (1850–1942) served in the British Army for 40 years, remaining active in the military into the Second World War.
Prince Leopold (1853– 1884) inherited the blood disorder hemophilia from his mother and was reputed to suffer from epilepsy, hindering his chances of joining the military. Instead, Leopold became a patron of the arts and acted as his mother’s unofficial secretary.
Princess Beatrice (1857– 1944) became the editor of her mother’s journals. She died in 1944 as Victoria’s last surviving child.
Queen Victoria died from a cerebral hemorrhage on January 22, 1901, at age 81. Of the approximately 28 surviving monarchies around the world, five are held by descendants of Victoria (England, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark. King Phillippe of Belgium also has ties to the family.) She is King Charles III’s great-great-great grandmother on both sides. A quick Google search tells me that today, her descendants number over 1200, with 983 of those currently alive and scattered all over the world. No wonder she’s referred to as “The Grandmother of Europe.”
As for me, I love the words of I Peter 2:9, which apply to all believers: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Painting of Queen Victoria's family / Public Domain
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