Queen Victoria: Rebel With A Crown

Happy Victoria Day! It is the day that signals the beginning of summer parties throughout the country and many Canadians forget that it is a celebration of the birth of Queen Victoria. While it may seem like a British tradition, Canada is the only country in the world to observe this day as a holiday. In fact, it is Canada’s oldest national holiday and began in 1838. So who was this Queen Victoria?

While she is most often portrayed as a dowdy proper old woman dressed in black, this wasn’t Victoria’s only side. She came to power as a young vivacious 18-year-old with a mind of her own. She refused to grant her mother’s lover regency over her throne and married the love of her life, Prince Albert. Victoria proved that a young woman could successfully rule the most powerful empire in the world, without a regent or a king.

Although the Victorian era seems stuffy, it seems that Victoria’s court was actually a great time. She partied hard in her youth and loved dancing into the wee morning hours. She definitely enjoyed sex — most evidenced by her nine children.

Even though she was officially widowed, it didn’t stop Vicky from playing the field. She was quite racy for her day, having torrid love affairs with younger men. Her most scandalous lover was a young Indian manservant named Abdul Karim. He was in his 20s when they began their relationship in the 1880s; she was in her 60s.

Vicky kept prolific diaries that must have contained some hot and heavy content: her daughter Beatrice edited the diaries after her mother’s death to maintain her public image. Talk about a royal rebel.

Victoria reigned for over 63 years and she is still the longest reigning monarch in British history. Victoria Day is a celebration of a powerful woman, who refused to conform to what society expected of women. She sounds pretty kick ass to me. Happy Birthday, Vicky!

Contact the author here: kait@morningquickie.com