The Queen's Husband

Chapter IV PREPARATIONS

Living in Coburg was Leopold’s old friend and adviser Baron Christian Friedrich von Stockmar, whither he had retired some two years before. Stockmar had at one time lived in England and had personally known not only Leopold’s first wife, the Princess Charlotte, but the young Princess Victoria as well. It was Stockmar who had advised Leopold not to take the Greek crown but to accept that of Belgium. He had been Leopold’s doctor in the first instance; they shared an interest in their ailments, vying with each other in recounting their sufferings; they had enjoyed each other’s company and Stockmar’s great concern had been Leopold’s advancement. For the last two years Leopold had asked Stockmar to keep an eye on Albert in an unofficial manner. In a small court such as that of Duke Ernest this was a simple matter and Stockmar had been able to report on the two brothers from time to time.

Albert was of special interest to Leopold and Stockmar was able to report that Albert was ‘a fine fellow with agreeable qualities’. He even had something of an English look. As to his mind, Stockmar heard glowing reports of this but he must remind Leopold that they were somewhat partial. Stockmar had seen too little of Albert to give a personal judgement, and he added that if the young Prince were going to qualify for one of the most influential positions in Europe (which marriage to the Queen of England would surely be) he must have more than a studious nature, discretion and caution (and Stockmar had heard that he possessed this to a great degree); he must have ambition and great will-power. He must be made to understand from the outset that this was a ‘vocation of grave responsibility’ and not to be lightly undertaken and that his honour and happiness would depend upon the manner in which he was able to fulfil his duties.

Now, the Prince could clearly not be fitted for this great future in Coburg. In the first place he must have a command of English. It was no use being able to write it adequately; he must be able to express himself fluently in that language and understand what was being said to him. He must not only have English lessons but have them from an English person. Stockmar did not think Berlin was the right place for the Prince, but if he came to Brussels his uncle could keep an eye on him. Let him have a few months there studying history and modern languages; and then Leopold could come to a decision as to the future plans. But these would need serious and immediate consideration.

Thus it was that almost immediately after the return from England, the brothers were on their way to Brussels.

It was pleasant to live in Brussels, for it meant being close to his uncle. Leopold was of course a very busy man; he had a kingdom to govern, but his great desire was to see members of his family in important positions all over Europe and as he said often to the brothers, there could not be one from which it was more possible to influence Europe for good than England. Leopold’s heart was set on a marriage between Victoria and Albert.

When they were alone together he talked of that brief period when he was married to Charlotte and had believed that he would be in a position which he now hoped would one day be Albert’s. ‘A Queen Regnant needs a husband to guide her. How well I should have done that for Charlotte! And you must learn to do for Victoria what I should have done for her.’

‘I should want to influence her for good,’ said Albert.

‘That is what I hope. You would guide and advise and, my dear Albert, you would have one of the most important tasks in the whole world. You would have to teach Victoria her responsibilities to her country, to Europe and her family. I shall not be far away and able to guide you both. We shall be in constant touch with each other.’

Albert’s eyes had begun to sparkle at the prospect. He was discovering that he was ambitious.

He studied so earnestly that his tutors expressed delight in him. He was far in advance of his brother Ernest. Leopold smiled. ‘All well and good. There’s a great difference in governing a European power like England and in governing a little Coburg dukedom.’

In correspondence with Baron Stockmar Leopold decided that the Princes should attend a university and Bonn was decided on; so there was another move and the brothers settled in to university life, where Albert’s aptitude and nature continued to delight his tutors.

They had been at Bonn for only a few weeks when important news arrived via Uncle Leopold.

‘I have heard today,’ wrote their uncle, ‘news which is of the utmost importance to us all. King William is dead and your cousin Victoria is Queen of England. You will of course wish to write to her.’

Albert was trembling with excitement. The more he had travelled, the greater his ambition had grown. He saw now how right his uncle was and this marriage was the best thing that could happen to him. Only through marriage could he achieve a position of any great importance; and his longsighted uncle was preparing him to receive one of the greatest prizes in the world. He must not fail.

He wrote to Victoria, ‘his dearest cousin’. He must congratulate her on the great change which had come into her life. He reminded her that she was the mightiest Queen in Europe and that the happiness of millions lay in her hands.

‘I hope that your reign may be long, happy and glorious and that your efforts may be rewarded by the thankfulness and love of your subjects.’

He hoped too, that he might be able to share that throne with her. King Albert of England. It sounded a wonderful project.

He must prepare himself even more thoroughly than before.

He worked harder; and he waited for news of what would happen next and when he might begin his courtship in earnest.

During the autumn holidays the two Princes made a tour of Switzerland and northern Italy. It was as well, said Uncle Leopold, to see something of the world. The two months of September and October were taken up by this and it had been arranged that this should be a walking holiday. Albert was quite happy; he loved the fresh air; the mountains of Switzerland exhilarated him and the art treasures of Milan and Venice enchanted him. He was quite content to spend his days walking, providing he could go to bed at about nine o’clock. He would immediately sleep heavily and be awake at six o’clock, ready to spend another day of exploration.

Albert wished that holiday could have gone on and on. He discussed his feelings with Ernest for they understood each other well.

‘You know what will happen when we have finished with Bonn,’ said Ernest. ‘You will go one way and I another.’

‘I have often thought of it,’ replied Albert sombrely.

‘We have to face it. If you are going to England and I to Coburg, we shall be parted.’

‘Eighteen years is a long time for two people to be together.’

‘Most brothers and sisters are.’

‘We are more to each other than most.’

They were silent for a while. Then Albert said: ‘That is why I wish I could make time stand still. Here am I on this stimulating and most enjoyable holiday with the best companion in the world, with the possibility of a grand marriage before me. If only we could be as we are forever … happy, together, everything waiting to fall into my hands.’

‘Who would have thought to hear you talk like this! It is quite fanciful. We have to have our separation and that is going to be very painful to us both. I fancy you will remember me sometimes, brother, when you luxuriate in the glories of Windsor and Buckingham Palace.’

‘I am happy now here in the fresh air with you, Ernest.’

‘It is nothing to the happiness you will know as King of England with little Queen Victoria beside you ready to love, honour and obey.’

Albert looked so sad that Ernest sought to change his mood by warning him that Little Victoria appeared to him to have quite a temper of her own so he need not think it was going to be very easy.

‘All the more reason,’ said Albert, ‘for me to wish this happy time never to end.’

‘Well, if you can make time stand still, brother, you’re a cleverer man than I am.’ Ernest grinned at his brother. ‘Which,’ he added, ‘is as it should be. Only clever Albert is good enough for Victoria.’

Albert was right. The parting came very soon. After a brief spell at the university Ernest was to go to Dresden to undergo a course of military instruction and Albert was to take a Grand Tour of Europe in the company of Baron Stockmar. There was another member of the party, Sir Francis Seymour, a young soldier whom Leopold had requested to be Albert’s companion and to converse with him always in English.

The brothers were heartbroken at their parting but for Albert at least there was a good deal to interest him. He loved the arts, and in Rome and Florence found much to his taste. He was aware of the Baron’s critical eye but at the same time the old man seemed to have an affection for him; and Sir Francis Seymour in some ways made up for the loss of his brother. Travel was exciting; and this exploration of the world’s art treasures, plus new and magnificent scenery, was indeed an education. During the tour he continued to study. It was a life which appealed to him, getting up at six in the morning and working until dinner which he took at two o’clock; he rarely drank wine and took water at all meals; he was in bed by nine o’clock. He played the piano and organ whenever possible; he sang and composed his songs. It was a good life. If Ernest could have shared it he would have been happy.

Stockmar, in spite of his growing affection, was not entirely satisfied with his protégé. He wrote to Leopold that the young man was intelligent, kind, friendly; his intentions were good but he rarely exerted himself. It was not so much that he was lazy but that he seemed incapable of physical effort; he was not sufficiently interested in politics to please the Baron and this would have to be rectified; his manners too must be improved for he was a little ungracious in the company of women. He would always have more success with men than with women, and in the society of the latter he seemed indifferent, awkwardly shy, and he failed to exert himself to such an extent that he appeared ungracious. Another point was that his constitution was clearly not very strong which might account for his desire to be in bed by nine and his failure to exert himself.

Leopold frowned over the letter when he received it. They would have to watch Albert’s health. He would write to Stockmar asking him to superintend his diet. Of course this lack of grace was due to his having been brought up without a mother and with no really cultivated women, except his two grandmothers, near him.

There was more to worry Leopold. He had had a strange letter from his niece. He was getting rather uneasy about Victoria. Since her accession she had changed. She had more or less told him that she did not expect him to meddle in English politics and that she must refer his suggestions to her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, and her Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston. This was a blow considering that he had thought he would be the one to whom she would turn for advice.

Now she was writing that she was not at all eager for marriage. She wanted to know whether Albert was aware that a marriage between them was being discussed by his father and their uncle Leopold. Albert must be made aware, she insisted, that there was no engagement between them, because she was not at all sure whether she would like Albert as a husband. She might like him as a brother or a cousin but that was not the same as a husband, and she must remind everyone that if she decided not to marry Albert she would not be guilty of any breach of promise because she had never given a promise. She could make no final promise that year and at the very earliest would not wish to marry for two or three years hence. She wanted Uncle Leopold to know that there was no anxiety in her country for her marriage.

Leopold cursed softly as he laid down the letter.

He was disappointed in his little Victoria. How she had changed! He had little doubt of his ability to persuade her, but she was very impressionable, young and romantic, and there should be no further delay in bringing about a meeting.

After all Victoria was now twenty and Albert on the point of becoming so. That was old enough for marriage.

He was disturbed about Stockmar’s comment on Albert’s behaviour with women. Albert was really very good-looking; he had a fine figure, was tall, and his features were exactly like those of his mother. He was, in fact, a little like Victoria to look at. She must like his appearance. But he must be warned that he should not appear to be over-confident. He had to woo Victoria. And the sooner he began the better.

The first thing to do was to warn him of Victoria’s unwillingness to make up her mind, which would prevent his being too confident.

Albert’s reply alarmed him at first. He would, he told his uncle, be prepared to wait providing there was a definite promise and a certainty that the marriage would take place.

If, he pointed out, after waiting for three years he should find the Queen no longer desired the marriage, he would be put in a very undignified position, and it would perhaps ruin his prospects for the future.

This reply did not displease Leopold and Stockmar.

‘He is becoming ambitious,’ said Stockmar. ‘And that is what I hoped for.’

Leopold’s answer was: ‘There must be no more delays. Albert and Victoria must be brought face to face as soon as possible.’

It was arranged that the meeting should take place in October.

‘Ernest should go with Albert,’ commanded Leopold. ‘If by any chance Victoria should decide not to take Albert, it would be as well to have an alternative choice.’

It seemed to Albert that September, when the leaves began to change, that they had never before been so beautiful. It was a wonderful month and he was happy to be home, but poignantly so, for soon he must leave. The great test was coming nearer; sometimes he welcomed it, sometimes dreaded it. It hurt his dignity that he should have to present himself for the Queen’s approval; if she were to decide against him he would be a laughing-stock; and on the other hand if she still remained undecided and wanted to keep him dangling, that position was almost as undesirable.

He talked it over with Ernest as they stalked deer in the forest or shot wild fowl or collected pieces of rock for their ‘museum’.

All Ernest would say was wait and see; and at the end of September they were ready to make the journey to England.

The wretchedness of that sea crossing was even worse than he had imagined it would be. He lay groaning on his bunk thinking, as he had on a previous occasion, that death would be preferable to such humiliating suffering. It did not make him feel better to realise that his brother and others of the party did not share his sickness, and he believed that the crew secretly jeered at him.

The terrible rocking of the boat, those high grey waves, the fearful nausea … oh, how he longed for the peace of Rosenau! To go back there, to live in obscurity, to be poor – for he should be as a second son; and even Ernest, the future Duke, would not be affluent – anything was better than this. Indeed the peace of the forest and the simple life seemed very desirable.

The crossing at last came to an end, and pale and feeble he staggered ashore. Ernest was beside him, ready for adventure. Surely, thought Albert, she will choose Ernest.

The baggage could not be found but they decided to go on without it.

‘It’s fortunate,’ said Ernest, ‘that the Queen is at Windsor. You’ll recover during the journey and the country air will do you good.’

Albert, though still pale and wan, felt better as they rode through the fresh green fields. He saw the castle – grey and seeming impregnable before him – and his spirits rose. If he were a king in such a castle with its vistas of green fields and forests, he could be content, he believed.

So much would depend on Victoria, of course.

They had arrived; the grooms had taken their horses and told them: ‘Her Majesty is ready to receive you.’

So they entered the castle.

She was standing at the top of the staircase, a diminutive figure with flushed cheeks and sparkling blue eyes.

‘My dear cousins,’ she cried, holding out her hands.

Ernest first because he was the elder. She smiled up at him.

‘Dear Ernest, I am so happy to see you. And Albert … Albert …’

She glowed with delight; her gaze rested on him.

‘Dear cousin Albert, welcome to Windsor.’

It was on Albert that her gaze lingered. His heart leaped in triumph, for he was almost sure that he was the chosen one.