FAQs

Why have you chosen to focus on Queen Victoria?

Simple – personal interest and the wealth of source material.  I am neither a published author nor an academic, and aside from taking few university courses on the Victorian era, I am largely self-taught on all matters Victoria.  I have enjoyed reading and writing about royalty for most of my life and have a particular interest in Queen Victoria and her large family. 

As for the source material, Victoria kept a journal from her childhood until her death, providing volumes of personal commentary on events in her life and the world.  She also maintained correspondence with countless people throughout her lifetime, a great deal of which (especially the letters between Victoria and her eldest daughter, Vicky) has been preserved.  This blog would not have been possible had Victoria not left such a large amount of personal writings that have since been preserved and made available to the public.

Why does the blog jump back and forth in time?

As most of Victoria’s writings are dated, it seems logical for me to feature a letter or entry written on the date for a particular blog post on that day (a May 15 post will feature a letter or entry written on May 15, for example).  Naturally, among Victoria’s writings there will be multiple entries and letters written on that date through her lifetime.  Writing in this manner also provides the opportunity to discuss a particular event in Victoria’s life in greater detail. 

I am hoping that as readers follow the blog (and as I write it!), everyone will form a more well-rounded opinion of Victoria in general.  She’s definitely a complex subject. 

Where can you find copies of her letters and journal entries?

Victoria’s writings are published in multiple books usually centering around a particular theme – her experiences in Scotland (Highland Journals)and her correspondence with Vicky (the Roger Fulford series) etc.  Other writings are included in biographies of Victoria or her family members.  Generally these letters are not included in their entirety, but are “highlights” from pivotal events in her reign. 

My sources are listed here. 

Victoria’s complete journals became accessible online in 2012, although only to residents of the Commonwealth.  As I’m in the United States, I don’t have access to these journals, but I have collected a number of books containing Victoria’s writings over the years. 

Were all of the letters and entries you feature written by Victoria?

All of the journal entries were written by Victoria unless otherwise noted.  The majority of letters included were either written by or written to Victoria.  A few additional letters featured here were written by others about Victoria (typically by her children), which I thought were applicable given the subject.

Why don't you update every day?

This is my goal, but sometimes life gets in the way.  I update daily whenever possible, and I'm hoping as I get more and more familiar with the material and Victoria's story, I may be able to write with a bit more ease.  Please bear with me!  :)

Why have you included biographies of Victoria’s family on certain dates instead of an entry or a letter? 

Logistics.  Although I do personally own a number of books containing Victoria’s writings, I am always in the process of obtaining more.  As I’ve mentioned above, I currently do not have access to Victoria’s full journals.  Therefore I have a few dates for which I have not been able to find a letter or an entry, so I have included a biography on one of Victoria’s family members as something of a supplement.  As Victoria’s influence spread far and wide, I also believe that including information on her family provides a more expanded view of Victoria’s effect on history.