Have I underestimated how hard Victoria’s childhood was? Have I given her too much credit given she lived a life of luxury? Have I forgotten how much of a monster Conroy might have been? What do YOU think? It is perhaps then, not the most unreasonable assumption that there were other moments of tenderness, happiness and joy that she – the mother of rewriting history – had forgotten as well. She remembered then how in her earliest years, she was loved, even if she had subsequently forgotten it. But her grief when her mother eventually died was genuine. While not a child genius she was more than aware that she was at the centre of a power struggle and her actions toward Conroy after she becomes Queen show how deeply she must have resented him. There can be little doubt that Victoria’s later childhood was problematic. Likewise she did have sibling – from her mother’s first marriage – and there is evidence she got on well with them. While her loathing of the man running the household may well have caused her to resent them, it is unlikely these feelings were fully developed in the earlier years of girlhood. Conroy’s daughters were on hand as playmates. While Victoria complained of being lonely and isolated this was not strictly true.Although I guess the theatre didn’t sell choc-chip ice cream in the 1830s. Similarly she clearly spent a lot of time with her portraits and paintings and on visits to the theatre. There is evidence that she had plenty of dolls and toys and that she enjoyed playing with them. Not only did her mother have some resources, they were invested kindly in Victoria.Victoria was at the pinnacle of privilege. Yes, by Royal standards they didn’t have a lot to shout about but having studied my own family history I’ve learnt just how horrible growing up in industrial revolution Britain could be. Materially, Victoria was still a young lady of privilege.She stood by the young Princess throughout thick and thin and it was ultimately Prince Albert, not her mother, not Conroy, who would cause their separation. ![]()
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