Facts

Queen Victoria - events
 
Victoria relied heavily at first on the advice of her Whig Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. He acted more as a kind of fatherly uncle to her and, although he was carefully deferential to the headstrong Queen, it was obvious who held the real power. 

When the Tory government, led by Sir Robert Peel, came to power Victoria mistrusted the new minister. However, Peel was Prime Minister and eventually she grew to trust him almost as much as Lord Melbourne. Victoria was happy to let him control her affairs while she busied herself with the needs of a growing family. Many areas of Britain were very poor at this time and the people were becoming rebellious.

Peel tried to make changes in the Corn laws to encourage free trade, but instead caused a rift in the Tory party (many of them had private interests in protecting the Corn Law). Many people were in favour of the People's Charter, which was calling for even greater changes following the Reform Act. Peel's government gave way to Lord John Russell and the Queen feared for her own life.

There were rebellions all over Europe and without Russell she felt that there could be one at home - indeed the tension in Ireland was becoming unbearable due to the terrible Great Potato Famine of 1847. In 1848 there were riots in Italy, Vienna, Budapest and Berlin. The French King, Louis Philippe, was forced to flee to the comparative safety of England. 

Victoria's husband, Albert, was always a massive support to her. However, as he was a foreign Prince, he had no power in affairs of state. He was an active man, but he could not even organise his own household because that was the duty of Baroness Louise Lehzens. Albert soon became bored and eventually he managed to be rid of her and take complete control over the royal household. However, when he tried to become involved in affairs of state there were complaints, especially over the Crimean crisis. He was even accused of treachery due to his German and Russian connections.

It was only in 1857 that Albert officially became Prince Consort to the Queen, giving him legal entitlement to advise her and make decisions, but this was after the Crimean War had ended. The war had lasted for less than three years of Queen Victoria's reign and had been caused by the Russians attacking ships belonging to the Turkish Ottoman Empire. This was partly due to their involvement with French interests and Britain sent forces to protect the Turks and declared war on Russia. The Victoria Cross was created and awarded to soldiers For Valour in the Crimean War. 

One achievement of Prince Albert's that helped to occupy him was the organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851. The huge Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton, was built especially for it to hold an Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations. This displayed everything from tepees to the new mechanical computer designed by Sir Charles Babbage.