Queen Victoria Quotes


She will sooner abdicate than send for or have any communication with that half mad firebrand who would soon ruin everything & be a Dictator. Others but herself may submit to his democratic rule but not the Queen.


Context

Note that the Queen always used the 3rd person rather than the 1st when referring to herself. This was true of most of the leading public figures in England at the time. Although she detested Gladstone, she gained control of her feelings and did her duty and “sent for” him to form the Government. She was personally delighted when, as she predicted, his government then had political difficulties.


Citations

Victoria Alexandrina, 1819-1901, [Queen Victoria], Queen of Great Britain and Ireland & Empress of India, Note to her Private Secretary when Gladstone’s Liberal Party had won the election, 1880

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

Linked Quotes

1st Earl of Beaconsfield. At the time the Queen was not just a figurehead. She made most of the major appointments and had to approve of and sign many documents. In addition, she as the head of state met with foreign royalty and foreign diplomats. She would tell the Prime Minister of policies she wanted made and even how military strategy was to be handled. Although she had much power, she rarely used it and instead relied on her ability to persuade the Prime Ministers and other members of the Government. Disraeli and opposition leader Gladstone exchanged roles as the voters flip flopped between the two parties. Queen Victoria loved working with Disraeli and their meetings, but hated doing so with Gladstone. See {629314}.


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Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria
  • Born: May 24, 1819
  • Died: January 22, 1901
  • Nationality: British
  • Profession: Royalty

Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Known as the Victorian era, her reign of 63 years and seven months was the longest of any British monarch until surpassed by that of Elizabeth II. It was a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. In 1876, Parliament voted to grant her the additional title of Empress of India.