characterisation of queen victoria in under fire
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Victoria was born in Kensington Palace, the daughter of Prince Edward, who was fourth in line for the throne. Victoria herself was fifth in line for the throne at the time of her birth. In 1820 both her father and her grandfather died, placing her uncle George IV on the throne and putting her third in line behind her surviving uncles. Victoria was taught throughout her childhood by private tutors, and heavily isolated by her mother, the Duchess, and her mother's comptroller Sir John Conroy, who wished to keep Victoria weak and under her control. The Duchess was disgusted by the sexual impropriety running rampant in the royal family, and made efforts to ensure her daughter would never be tied in with similar scandals. It has been suggested this led to the development of the strict Victorian morality that would later characterize her rule.
In 1827 the Duke of York died, and then three years later King George IV died, leaving the throne to King William IV and making Victoria heiress presumptive. This same year, and again several times throughout the first half of the 1830s, Victoria was taken by her mother on several tours throughout England and Wales, where she was greeted enthusiastically by the populace. William did not like the trips, and Victoria herself hated them as they made her ill. Her mother ignored her pleas to stop the tours, and forced the young girl to continue them. In 1835 she came down with a severe fever due to the constant travelling. Her mother and Conroy attempted to force the ill girl to appoint him her secretary or to her staff.
In 1836, when Victoria was 17, her mother and maternal uncle, King Leopold I, contrived to introduce her to Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, her maternal cousin, in the hopes of marrying the two off. Though King William IV was opposed to the match, Victoria was very fond of Albert, even writing a letter to Leopold to thank him for introducing the pair. They did not become engaged at the time, but it was assumed that an engagement would take place soon.
In 1827 the Duke of York died, and then three years later King George IV died, leaving the throne to King William IV and making Victoria heiress presumptive. This same year, and again several times throughout the first half of the 1830s, Victoria was taken by her mother on several tours throughout England and Wales, where she was greeted enthusiastically by the populace. William did not like the trips, and Victoria herself hated them as they made her ill. Her mother ignored her pleas to stop the tours, and forced the young girl to continue them. In 1835 she came down with a severe fever due to the constant travelling. Her mother and Conroy attempted to force the ill girl to appoint him her secretary or to her staff.
In 1836, when Victoria was 17, her mother and maternal uncle, King Leopold I, contrived to introduce her to Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, her maternal cousin, in the hopes of marrying the two off. Though King William IV was opposed to the match, Victoria was very fond of Albert, even writing a letter to Leopold to thank him for introducing the pair. They did not become engaged at the time, but it was assumed that an engagement would take place soon.
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