Queen Victoria’s Posthumous Mourning: Did She Have Any Suitable Suitors?
After the heart-wrenching death of her devoted husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, Queen Victoria entered a profound period of mourning. This sorrowful time significantly impacted her personal and public life, leading many to wonder if she ever considered any serious suitors. While rumors persisted about potential suitors, historical evidence suggests that Queen Victoria remained faithful to the memory of her beloved Albert, reverting to a life solely focused on her children and her duties as queen.
Rejection of Romantic Advances
Despite numerous expressions of interest from various European royals and statesmen, Queen Victoria displayed a clear demur when it came to any romantic suitors. Her undying devotion to Prince Albert was evident, and she rejected these advances with grace and poise. Her prolonged mourning profoundly affected her life, making her withdrawal from public duties understandable but not easily explained by any other means.
The Enigma of John Brown
One of the most intriguing individuals who entered Queen Victoria’s life during this period was John Brown, her Scottish gamekeeper. Brown quickly became a confidant and a source of comfort to the grieving queen. His plain-spoken manner and steadfast loyalty stood out, and Queen Victoria began to rely heavily on him. Over time, rumors began to swirl about their relationship, with one even suggesting that Queen Victoria had a secret son fathered by Brown.
Despite these rumors, historians and scholars believe that John Brown remained no more than a close friend to Queen Victoria. The vast disparity in their social statuses made any notion of a romantic or familial bond implausible. Brown died in 1883, just 22 years after the death of Prince Albert, and Queen Victoria lived on for another 18 years, mourning both her husband and her long-time friend.
Remarkably, Queen Victoria’s family felt so strongly about Brown that they removed all references to him from her personal belongings after her passing. This decision was covertly made to bestow her final goodbye with minimal distractions. It is only through her personal wishes that Queen Victoria was buried with a plaster cast of Albert’s hand and a lock of Brown’s hair, symbolizing her deep affection and enduring memory of both husband and confidant.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of Prince Albert’s death, Queen Victoria’s life was marked by deep mourning. While there were rumors of potential suitors, and a close relationship with John Brown, historical evidence suggests that her heart remained forever with Albert. She found solace, companionship, and strength in her trusted compatriots, but any thought of serious suitors was far from her reality. The focus of her life shifted from romantic pursuits to her duties as queen and the nurturing of her children, all while cultivating friendships that profoundly influenced her private and public life.