What Queen Victoria Really Thought About Motherhood

Queen Victoria was more directly involved with the care of her first two children than of the subsequent seven, according to Town & Country. Prince Albert, however, was deeply involved with all of them. Unlike most fathers at the time, he took a great interest in his children’s care and education. He enjoyed this, writing (via History Extra), “There is certainly a great charm, as well as deep interest, in watching the development of feelings and faculties in a little child” “One of the children’s governesses, Lady Lyttleton, described the way he played with the eldest, Victoria (via History Extra): “Albert tossed and romped with her, making her laugh and crow and kick heartily.”

Albert wasn’t a perfect father, however. The educational regime he created for his children was strict and difficult, and his intellectually average children struggled with it, especially the oldest boy, “Bertie,” who threw tantrums in the classroom. The children learned languages, etiquette, geography, math, and science, but only Victoria excelled. Discipline and obedience were highly important to Albert, and he often used corporal punishment on his children when they misbehaved. According to History Extra, Queen Victoria was on board with all this, hoping the children — but especially the boys — would turn out as little copies of their father.

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