Queen Victoria's Very Bad Year

Victoria was the youngest Queen England has ever known. It had
been more than 100 years since last a Queen had been ruler of the
country. There was anticipation and speculation about how this
young woman would manage her responsibilities. 

As a single reigning Queen, Victoria was confident. She embraced
her opportunity to serve her country, something she had been
anticipating for years. She happily cast off the stifling
influence of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and Sir John
Conroy. 

In 1839, the episodes regarding Lady Flora Hastings and the
Ladies of the Bedchamber drew Victoria’s youth, immaturity, and
inexperience into sharp focus. The Queen was shown to be unable
to set her personal feelings aside to make fair judgments. And
Lord Melbourne, who should have advised her to make better
choices, instead went along with and encouraged the Queen’s
selfish choices. The public seemed to be turning against the
Queen.

Victoria was despondent. She had been trying to prove she was
Queen, to exercise her influence and demonstrate her ability to
reign. Instead, she had acted out of spite and selfishness, and
had seen the country turn against her. Her joyful and successful
coronation must have seemed a world away. 

The Queen would have one more opportunity to make the right
decision that year.


History shows us what's possible.