Queen Victoria - Part 5 - The Younger Children

According to Queen Victoria, her second son, Alfred, known in the family as Affie, bore a close physical resemblance to his father. But, the Queen sighed, if only he shared his morals. Like his elder brother Bertie, Alfred's laziness was a constant source of irritation to his mother. At an early age, though, at his own request and with the full support of his family, he prepared for the Navy, and by the time he was fourteen, he was serving as a midshipman. His travels took him around the world, and during a visit to Australia, he was shot by a would-be assassin. Fortunately, he made a full recovery, and would go on to become the father of the stunning Queen Mary of Romania. When Prince Albert's brother, the Duke of Coburg, died, the title would naturally have passed to Bertie. But since he was already Prince of Wales, Alfred inherited the duchy, thereby becoming both Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Coburg. Princess Helena, known as Lenchen, was something of a tomboy as a child, and to her delight, Prince Albert encouraged her in her robust pursuits. One of her favourite memories was seeing her father watching her, with an expression of delight as she galloped apace on the fast horse. Lenchen would eventually marry a penniless prince, Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, and to her mother's satisfaction would remain living close by her in England. If Victoria's elder sons caused her anxiety and annoyance, her sixth child, Arthur, Duke of Connacht, could do no wrong in her eyes. Named after his godfather, the Duke of Wellington, Arthur was undoubtedly the Queen's favourite son, for every description she wrote of him is filled with praise and admiration. As a serving soldier, Arthur was popular with the men under his command, and made an excellent impression on everyone with whom he came into contact. Unfortunately, his younger sister Louise was far less amenable, and developed a reputation for making mischief in the family. In reality, Louise was a free spirit, with a remarkable artistic talent. Even while young, her work was exhibited at the Royal Academy, and her statue of Queen Victoria in Kensington Palace Gardens bears witness to her ability as a sculptor. In spite of her erratic nature and sometimes difficult character, Louise was particularly close to her younger brother, Leopold, Duke of Albany, whose life was tragically blighted by haemophilia. Since the Queen had, for the first time, been administered chloroform during his birth, some pious souls suggested that his illness was a punishment for his mother, since women were expected to suffer in childbirth. The agonising bleeding disease often left Leopold crippled for weeks on end, and so concerned was the Queen for his safety that she metaphorically covered him in cotton wool, and stifled many of his talents. Only towards the end of his life did the Queen realise the extent of his abilities, and she would eventually come to rely on him as she had once relied on his father. To her happy delight, Leopold married and fathered two children, but before the birth of his second child, he travelled to Cannes for the sake of his health, and while there he slipped and fell, and he died at the age of only thirty-one. The youngest of Queen Victoria's children, Princess Beatrice, was born in Buckingham Palace in April 1857. She was a bright and cheerful little girl, but when she was four years old, tragedy struck the family, and her life, and the life of her siblings, would never be the same again.