Figure 1.--

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are surely two the most remarkable individuals in the history of the British monarchy. Their relationship was one of the great love stories of the 19th century--but their association was far more than that. Perhaps the Queen with Prince Albert at her side is the only monarch since Elizabeth I that played a key role in British history. The Queen, abely advised by Albert, played a major role in the repeal of the Corn Laws, a major step toward truly democratic rule in Britain. The Prince was a tireless proponent of technology and industrial innovation. One of the Prince's last acts before his untimly death, was to discourage British support for the Confederacy in the American Civil War. If the Confederacy had succeded, there would have been no stroing united American Republic to come to Britain's aid in the two great World Wars of the 20th century. In addition, together they reshaped the image of the British monarchy in the public mind. In doing so, the kilt, and later the sailor suit, emerged as major styles for boys. Victoria Queen Victoria who read the poerty of Burns and the novels of Scott as a child was enamored by Scotland. Prince Albert, perhaps for more staid political reasons, bought the royal estate at Balmoral in the Highlands near Inverness for her. She was delighted and for the rest of her life would spend extended vacations there. The impact was soon felt in boys' fashions.

Importance

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are surely two the most remarkable individuals in the history of the British monarchy. Perhaps the Queen with Prince Albert at her side is the only monarch since Elizabeth I that played a key role in British history. The Queen, abely advised by Albert, played a major role in the repeal of the Corn Laws, a major step toward truly democratic rule in Britain. The Prince was a tireless poponent of technology and industrial innovation. One of the Prince's last acts before his untimly death, was to discourage British support for the Confederacy in the American Civil War. If the Confederacy had succeded, there would have been no stroing united American Republic to come to Britain's aid in the two great World Wars of the 20th century.

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria was Britain's longest serving monarch. The generally uneventful reign of George IV 's brother, William IV (1830-37), was followed by that of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Only 18 years when she came to the throne, innocent, self-centered and poorly educated--few expected very much. Victoria was, however, to oversee England at the height of its overseas power as well as an extrodinary exposion of technological advances which ushered Britain into the modern age. The British Empire was established in her reign, and it reached its greatest expanse under her. Perhaps even more importantly, major social and political refotrms were initiated. The oner major decession she made by herself was her choise of Albert of Saxe-Coburg for her husband. It was the love story of the 19th centyry. Victoria and Albert set the moral tone of the nation and helped shape Britain's emergence as a truly democratic nation. Voctoria witnessed an extrodinary development of British power and influence. She and Albert changed how Britain's looked on their monarch. She became in many ways the gramdmother of Europe, forging dynastic ties throughour the Continent. She also played a major role in influencing boys clothing around the world by the garments she selected for the young princes.

Prince Albert

Albert was the born into the royal family of a small German principality. He was stictly raised and very well educated. His mairrage to Victoria brought him to the throne of the most powerful country of the day. He was only the Prince Cosort and not a co-ruler with his wife. His advise to his poorly educated wife, however, was of great value to England, especially his advise that England not support the South in the American Civil War. He took the education of their heir, the future Edward VII very seriously. Despite the attention given to the care and education of the children, many serious mistakes were made and a program was pursued that was not suitable for a boy of limioted intelligence and volitile temperment. His untimely death devestated Victoria.

Reshaping the Monarchy

One of Victoria and Albert's most successful avhievements was reshaping the image of the British monarchy in the public mind. The monarchy in the early 19th century was dispairaged by many. The Hanovarians were a German family and most were destingied for their licentious life styles. Victoria and Albert managed to turn the image of the royal family into one of middle-clss rectitude. After the French Revolution, liberal sentiment throughout Europe turnd against monarchy. As a reult of Victoria and Albert, however, the revolutions which swept Europe in 1848 caused mearly a ripple in Britain--even in formerly anti-English Scotland. The effort to recast the public mindset also had a major impact on boys' clothing. The kilt, and later the sailor suit, emerged as major styles for boys. Victoria Queen Victoria who read the poerty of Burns and the novels of Scott as a child was enamored by Scotland. Prince Albert, perhaps for more staid political reasons, bought the royal estate at Balmoral in the Highlands near Inverness for her. She was delighted and for the rest of her life would spend extended vacations there. The impact was soon felt in boys' fashions. While we undersyand what was accomplished, we do not fully understand who conceived of the idea and planned its execution. HBC sees Prince Albert's hand in this, but we do not have scholarly sources describing precisly who conceived of the effort. Surely Victoria and Albert must have iscussed this effortwith advisers. We hope to eventully find some written sources.

Middle-class rectitude

One of Victoria and Albert's most successful achievements was reshaping the image of the British monarchy in the public mind. The monarchy in the early 19th century was dispairaged by many. The Hanovarians were a German family and most were destingied for their licentious life styles. Victoria and Albert managed to turn the image of the royal family into one of middle-class rectitude. Conveniently, Victoria's reign coincided with the development of photography. We thus have a wonderful photographic record of the royl family. What is remarkable about he record is he number of images showing what could be any properous middle-class family in Britain. Rather than being an embarassment, the royal famiy set the stndard that most Britons aspired to achieve in their home. his was no mere public relation ploy. This was how both Victiri nd lbert thought. Both remembered their childhood and parents and were determine to conduct their lives differntly. It was there good fortune that it perfecly coincided with the temper of the times.

Unified Britain

The monarch way also recast as a national and not an English symbol. They sought to popularize the monarchy in Scotland. Victoria Queen Victoria who read the poerty of Burns and the novels of Scott as a child was enamored by Scotland. Prince Albert, perhaps for more staid political reasons, bought the royal estate at Balmoral in the Highlands near Inverness for her. She was delighted and for the rest of her life would spend extended vacations there. The impact was soon felt in boys' fashions. The young princes were dressed in kilts. First Bertie (the future Edward VII) and then hs brother as well. A famous Winterhalter painting shows Bertie in his kilt as their are many photographs of the princes in kilts. After the French Revolution, liberal sentiment throughout Europe turnd against monarchy. As a result of Victoria and Albert, however, the revolutions which swept Europe in 1848 caused mearly a riple in Britain. This included Sotlnd which had once been so opposed to the English. The effort to recast the public mindset also had a major impact on boys' clothing. The royals were trend setters in fahion. Victoria's middle class clothing had less of an impact on fashion than French fashions, but the clothing for their children was a different matter. The kilt after the princes wer attired in Highland garb emerged as major styles for boys--even in America where boys wore kilt suits. It is interesting to note that no similar effort was mae by Victoria and Albert in Ireland and of course most of the iland is now an independent country.

National symbol

Victoria and Albert also sought to reshape the monarchy as the symbol of the British nation. One of their steps her was to dress th princes in sailor suits. Here again, a famous Winterhalter painting shows Bertie in a white sailor suit. The Royal Navy was of course the most respected even beloved institution in Britain. ttaching the monrchy to the Navy could only increase the prestige of the royal family. What was notable here and brilliant in a public relations sence was that the uniform chosen was that of an ordinary enlisted seaman--not an admiral. Unfortunately we do not yet know just whose idea this was, not only the idea but to wht exten they disussed the impact that it might have. The painting by Winterhalter was a gift from Albert to Victoria. The unintended impact was to make the saior suit perhaps the most successful boys' fashion ever.

Created: March 17, 2002
Last updated: March 17, 2002