Back to the Victorians calendar
On 14 December this year, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's beloved husband, died of typhoid. He had been ill for a couple of years but had bravely continued with his royal duties, actually adding to them after Victoria's mother died and she was too upset to do them.
After the death of her husband Victoria wore black for the rest of her life. She also completely withdrew from public life for at least 10 years. The room's that Albert had used in their houses were left exactly as they had been when he was alive and even fresh towels and linen were changed daily. Sadly her hiding away undid some of the work Albert had done to make the monarchy more modern. He wanted the Queen to be head of the country and have little to do with politics.
By 1870 some people were saying that Britain should become a republic and not have a King or Queen at its head. Meanwhile her son, the Prince of Wales, had also caught typhoid and it was touch and go if he would survive. He did and in February 1872 he and his mother took part in a parade through London and a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. The popularity of the Queen began to improve although, two days later, a 17 year old, Arthur O'Connor, waved a pistol at the Queen while she was riding in her open carriage. It turned out the pistol was not loaded but O'Connor was sentenced to a year in prison.
In 1887, we've moved on a bit here, Queen Victoria celebrated her golden jubilee, meaning she had been the reigning monarch for 50 years. Ten years later, luckily in 1897, she celebrated her diamond jubilee. By then she was 77 and quite frail. The only other monarch to celebrate both golden and diamond jubilees is our Queen, Elizabeth II. This year, 2017, she celebrated, rather quietly, her sapphire jubilee (65 years) and if she is still Queen in February 2022 she will reach her platinum jubilee by which time she will be approaching 96. It would appear there is nothing for 75 years (in 2027) so Owlbut thinks an Owlbut jubilee would be cool. At the age of 101, Her Majesty may not be bothered to argue. Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee is on the left, the Diamond Jubilee on the right.
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