Louise Lehzen was born in Germany in 1784. (Nota Bene: her surname is pronounced ”LAY zen”)She was a Christian and belonged to the Lutheran Church like most of her nation. In fact her father was Lutheran pastor. She grew up in an ambience of erudition. She grew up in the village of Lagenhagen near Hanover. Her family had high social status but little money. Louise was obliged to work as soon as she reached adulthood. Aristocratic women either married as soon as they came of age or else lounged around and waited to get married. Lutheran spent much of their time hobnobbing with the gentry but not actually being part of the gentry.
Louise worked as a governess for an aristocratic Marenholz family. They were highly impressed with her and provided her with a glowing reference. She was dignified, learned, well dressed and totally respectable. She was a very positive influence on the children. She was good looking and clever. However, she seemed to have no sense of humour.
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THE BACKGROUND OF QUEEN VICTORIA.
In 1819 Princess Victoria of Saxe Coburg Saalfeld sought a governess for her daughter Feodore. Princess Victoria came from one German ducal house and had married into a royal family of a very minor German state Amorbch. To be more accurate her name was Marie Luise Victoria but she was always known by the third of her forenames. Her husband Prince Emrich Charles of Leinigen was much older than her. She had had two daughters and her husband had died young. Louise began acting as a governess to the two girls. Then Princess Victoria married Prince Edward the Duke of Kent. This Edward was the younger brother of the King of the United Kingdom. Therefore she became the Duchess of Kent. The couple had a daughter whom they named Victoria. Henceforward all references to Victoria will be to the daughter and not the mother. Queen Victoria’s mother shall be called the Duchess of Kent henceforth.
The Duchess of Kent arrived in the United Kingdom in her 30s and she spoke limited English. At that time a woman in her 30s was regarded as middle aged. It is no easy thing to immigrate to a country in middle age especially if one is unable to speak the language fluently. The Duchess of Kent never got over the feeling of being an outsider. She did not know British court protocol and sometimes felt confused and homesick. Unsurprisingly she sought out a Britisher whom she could trust to show her the ropes. She came to put her faith in one of her husband’s equerries. The Duke of Kent had an army officer as his equerry (right hand man). He was John Conroy of the Royal Horse Artillery. Conroy was an Irishman and fiercely loyal to the Duke of Kent. Conroy entertained the whimsy that his wife was the natural daughter of the Duke of Kent. Only a couple of years after the Duchess of Kent arrived in the country her husband died. This made her much more dependent on Conroy than before.
John Conroy was much more than a majordomo. He was there to maintain relations between the Duchess of Kent and the government. He was so close to her that many muttered that the two must be having an affair.
A tutor was sought for Feodore. Dr Kuper was consulted. He was the Lutheran minister at the chapel in St James’ Palace. Dr Kuper knew the von Marenholz family and they recommended the redoubtable Louise Lehzen.
The year that Louise Lehzen became governess to Feodore – 1819 – was the year that Victoria was born. Not many people know that Queen Victoria’s name was actually Alexandrina Victoria. Among the family she was known as ‘Drina’ -short for ‘Alexandrina.’
Louisa Lehzen therefore was first of all the governess to Feodore – the elder half-sister of Queen Victoria. This is because Queen Victoria’s mother was married to a German nobleman and had two children from that marriage. Queen Victoria’s mother’s first marriage was ended by bereavement. Feodore was 12 when Louise Lehezen became her governess.
Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace. This was where she spent most of her childhood. Louise Lehzen proclaimed the infant to be ”a splendid baby.”
Victoria’s father died in 1820. At this time his daughter was a baby.
Louise was chosen for this post for several reasons. She was German. The family believed she would obey them. She was of the Reformed denomination. There was much anti-Catholic animus in the UK at that time.Louise Lehzen was as much part of the family as it was possible for a commoner to be. She spent Christmas with the family. It was her duty to teach her charge table manners. Upper class children were not permitted to dine with their parents until such time as they had acquired social graces.
Louise tutored Feodore until the child reached the age of 14.Louise Lehzen was noted for being a disciplinarian. However, she never used physical correction. In this respect she was well ahead of the times. Incidentally Feodore’s name was sometimes spelt Feodora at the time which is why it shall be spelt both ways in this text.
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LOUISA LEHZEN BECOMES GOVERNESS TO PRINCESS VICTORIA.
Louise was invited to the tutor to Victoria. Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward Duke of Kent. At that time Victoria’s uncle was king. However, he had no legitimate children.
As a baby Queen Victoria’s nursemaid was Mrs Brock. While the future monarch was in the cradle Louise read to her.
Queen Victoria’s grandmother the dowager Duchess of Coburg recalled ”In the morning sometimes she does not want to get out of bed preferring to tell all sorts of tales. Lehzen takes her gently from her bed and sits her down on the thick carpet, where she has to put on her stockings. ”
Queen Victoria had been a slow developer as a baby. She was almost two before her mother had been able to record ”Heute Morgen ist meine geliebste Kind Victoria allein geganen.” (This morning my dearest child Victoria walked on her own.”
Then Louise Lehzen was told to tutor only Victoria. At that time Victoria was 5. As her uncles had no legitimate children. They had reams of children born out of wedlock. Those who were unnuptially solemnised were disbarred from inheriting titles. Therefore it was becoming more and more likely that Victoria would inherit the crown. If her uncles suddenly became the father of a legitimate child then that would change.
Sir John Conroy said that Lehzen had been given this role because, ” the governess being entirely dependent on the Duchess of Kent she will entirely obey the latter’s will ”
Louise and Victoria became very close despite the 35 year age gap between them. Louise did not seem to want much money. She tutored this child because she loved her. The two became inseparable. It was blatant that Victoria had more of a bond with her tutor than she did with her mother. Louise urged her ward to be strong minded and to resist the influence of her mother.
Victoria shared a bedroom with her mother. The mother retired later than the child. Louise stayed in the room until her mother came to bed.
Queen Victoria has gone down in history as ”The Widow of Windsor”. However, this is highly misleading. Victoria lived to the age of 81 and her life is evenly divided into two halves before and after the death of her husband Prince Albert. She had a mournful demeanour in the 1860s after her husband died when Victoria was only 41. During her girlhood and youth she was known for her frivolity. Louise Lehzen’s joie de vivre made her a boon companion of Victoria.
Queen Victoria later recalled her upbringing by Louise Lehzen. Writing about herself in the third person she wrote, ”She never for the thirteen years she was governess to Princess Victoria ever left her. The princess was her only object and her only thought. She was very strict and the princess had great respect and even awe of her but that with the greatest affection.”
Victoria was fixated with her huge collection of dolls. It is an obsession that her descendant Elizabeth II later shared. Louise Lehzen as a good governess was willing to share in her charge’s hobby. She took a very keen interest in Victoria’s scores of dolls and the minutiae of their dress. Louise Lehzen made outfits for them and she also taught needlework to Victoria. Victoria did not have the tranquil temperament needed for needlework.
Victoria’s upbringing was very Germanic. Her mother was German and spoke English imperfectly. Many of the household were Germans such as Dr Stockmar and a lady in waiting named Baroness Spath.
George IV was mindful of Louise superb service. He ennobled her making her Baroness. It was unheard of at that time for a woman to be awarded a title in her own right. A woman might inherit one from her father or attain one through marrying her husband. It was not until the 1950s that another woman would be granted a hereditary title like Lehzen was.
People became covetous of Louise’ closeness to Victoria. Some sought to have her sacked. As a tutor she had to set an example of absolute morality. She was unmarried and she must not coquette with men. Some people tried to have her sacked by slandering her: saying she was having a liaison with a male courtier.
Victoria much latter recalled her upbringing by Louise, ”We lived in a very simple manner. Breakfast was at half eight, luncheon at half past one, dinner at seven to which I cam generally when there was no large regular dinner party.” Louise Lehzen had to inculcate table manners into her ward. Like most ruling class children Victoria was not permitted to dine with her parents until she had mastery of table etiquette. Louise had to uphold some rules that Victoria disliked. Victoria was to be given a minimum of sugary and meaty dishes. This is just as well since Victoria was inclined to plumpness. Had she been allowed to indulge her sweet tooth then she would have been obese.
When Victoria was seven years of age she was given a team of two Shetland ponies by the Marchioness of Huntingdon and a phaeton (horse drawn carriage). This phaeton was just large enough for her an Lehzen to sit on it. Of course Lehzen being her favourite person, even more so than her mother, it was with Lehzen that Victoria chose to travel in her phaeton. This tiny coach had to have a coachman who was ”A liliputian postillion in a livery of green and gold with a black velvet cap.”
Louise had the very important and worrying task of preparing Victoria to be queen. She had to inform Victoria that she would probably be queen. Victoria had not realised this when she was little. Victoria’s uncles realised how excellent Louise was and what emotional stability she provided for their niece.
Louise was in charge of the cultural part of Victoria’s education. This meant dancing, music and art. She had done some basic literacy and numeracy with her. This was no easy task as Queen Victoria later admitted: ” I was not fond of learning as a little child and baffled every attempt to teach me my letters up to five years old -when I consented to learn them by their being written down before me. ” It is notable that the age when Victoria began to learn to read was when she was put in the charge of Fraulein Lehzen.
One of the many challenges facing Louise Lehzen was to get along with the other tutors. She had to be singing from the same hymn sheet as them. Yet Louise also had to assert her primacy and guide Victoria in a manner that was natural for the governess. She managed to maintain cordial relations with the other tutors and this was a considerable feat.
A clergyman called Dr Davys taught the girl the harder subjects. The Reverend Doctor George Davys was a fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge. In those times the title ‘doctor’ for anyone other than a medical man was for an honorary doctorate in divinity and not for a PhD. Substantive doctorates did not exist in the United Kingdom at the time. Rev Dr Davys was also the vicar of a parish in Leicestershire which was 100 miles from London. He necessarily neglected his parish because he had to devote most of his time to his royal pupil. He paid another clergyman to discharge his duties to the parish. This was not an uncommon practice at the time. Rev Davys was later promoted to be Bishop of Peterborough by Queen Victoria. This was in recognition of his meritorious service.
Rev Davys had to teach the future monarch to speak English properly. Queen Victoria’s mother spoke to her in her Germanic English. The child therefore picked up some Germanisms such as saying ”so” as ”zo” during a pause in her speech. The queen’s mother did not realise the golden rule of bilingual child rearing. One parent speaks the language that he or she speaks fluently to the child. The other parent should speak the other language that he or she speaks fluently to the child. Victoria’s father was long dead but there were other native speakers of English about. Soon enough the princess spoke flawless English. She was then smart enough to tackle History and Geography.
Rev Davys was responsible for her religious upbringing. The mid 19th century was to be an epoch of spirited debate in the Church of England. The Oxford Movement was talking off at that time. That was an intellectual movement of those who believed that the Church of England should revive its Catholic traditions while still remaining outside the Roman Catholic Church. Davys was a conventional Anglican clergyman. He was not a member of the Oxford Movement nor was he an outspoken Protestant either. He found his pupil to be exceptionally pious.
Thomas Steward, a writing master at Westminster School, was also brought in to teach Victoria. Mr Steward taught Victoria arithmetic, writing and Geography. She took to this like a duck to water.
A Lutheran clergyman Henry Barez helped Victoria with German writing.
Victoria also had a riding master. She was taught to dance by a woman since it would not do for a man to teach her terpsichoreanism.
Richard Westall was her drawing master. Westall was a Fellow of the Royal Academy – which is a huge accolade for an artist. Victoria adored drawing and showed a considerable aptitude for it.
Mr Sale taught her singing and music. Her instrument was the pianoforte. He was an organist as St Margaret’s Church, Westminster. Victoria was a gifted songstress but she was not keen on the piano. Victoria was not a biddable pupil. When he told her that in order to ameliorate at the gay science she must practise she slammed lid of the piano down ”there is no must about it” she declared regally.
Victoria’s lessons were from nine thirty to eleven thirty. She had afternoon lessons from 3 pm to 5 pm. After that she learnt English, French and poetry. She spoke French decently but found grammar taxing. She had Religious Instruction once per week with Reverend Davies. This was especially needful for the person due to be head of the church. Music and dancing were weekly lessons too. Victoria had plenty of lessons in German. Although she spoke German before English she found that German grammar was a headache.
Louise Lehzen or the Duchess of Kent accompanied Victoria to every lesson. This enabled Lehzen to keep an eye on what was being taught and her pupil’s level of attentiveness and effort. Moreover, it allowed her to go over any difficult topics with Victoria later. Victoria even had lessons on Saturday but not Sunday. She spent an hour letter writing on Saturday.
Another governess sometimes stood in for Louise. She was the Duchess of Northumberland.
Louise Lehzen had the formidable task of presiding over this team of tutors. They did not always see eye to eye with each other. She also had to intercede for them with their pupil. One of the most challenging task for a governess or governor is to maintain a co-operative relationship with other members of the household staff.
Louise never smacked Victoria. This was incredibly humane at the time. Bear in mind that severe beatings of entirely children for trifling wrongdoing was par for the course at the time. Even royal children were usually soundly whipped. The young Victoria was not an easy child to care for. She frequently through tantrums. Her governess’ firm but patient attitude won the child around.
Victoria spent most of her free time with Louise. They walked around the grounds. Victoria attended to her dozens of dolls or ‘babies’ as she called them.There was 132 dolls at one stage. Victoria had them as characters from stories and plays and would act out the tales with these dolls. Louise was willing to meet Victoria on her own level and join in these childish games.
Victoria recognised that her antics were sometimes deplorable. ”I am shocked… I hope to become a good and obedient child. I want to hear Mamma say ”I am pleased.” ”
In 1830 Louise began to keep a ‘Good Behaviour Book’ about Victoria. This was a misnomer as the said book mainly recorded misbehaviour. Victoria confessed to being ”very ill-behaved and impertinent to Lehzen.” This Good Behaviour is an excellent example of Louise as the superlative governess. Her record keeping was efficient. She was always forcing her pupil to reflect on her conduct. Note how Victoria referred to Lehzen by her surname – without the word Miss in front of it. This is how aristocrats alluded to their servants.
Louise had to walk a tightrope. She had to chide Victoria and maintain control over her without being insulting or smacking her at all. Victoria was sometimes insolent. It is a testament to Louise’s judgment and diplomatic skills that she managed to control Victoria’s bad behaviour and gradually improved it without offending or alienating her wayward and recalcitrant pupil. Tutors, governesses and governors often face this quandary. They are either too hard or too soft. They are bound to be criticised from one angle or other. They cannot win.
George IV was so elated with the way that Louise Lehzen was bringing up her niece that he ennobled her. For a woman to be given a title in her own right was unheard of at the time. George IV was King of Hanover as well as of the United Kingdom. Louise was made a baroness in Hanover.
In 1830 George IV died. The new king was William IV. He was also an uncle of Victoria. William IV was married to Adelaide but they had no children. Mrs Martha Wilson was a Lady of the Bedchamber. This was a crucial court position. Louise Lehzen was canny enough to form a cordial relationship with Mrs Wilson.
Victoria was not allowed to attend her uncle’s coronation. She was very hurt and letdown. She cried for hours – seeking consolation hugs from Louise. She always turned to Louise for moral support and not her mother. Despite this no one claimed that Louise attempted to turn Victoria against her mother. Victoria’s unfilial outlook was of her own making.
On one occasion Louise put a chronological table into Victoria’s history book. The teenager remarked ”I am closer to the throne than I thought.” It would be astonishing if she had not known she was second in line to the throne. Perhaps she was unaware that her uncle William IV was so old compared to most monarchs. The king was becoming ever more infirm and the succession could not be long. This even shows Louise’s astuteness and sense of History. Although she did not teach academic subjects besides German there is no doubt that she had a formidable intellect.
Louise was fascinated by History. This is unsurprising bearing in mind she worked in a family which had made History for centuries. She and Victoria often discussed it informally. Victoria sympathised with her ancestress Mary Queen of Scots who was seen to be womanly by comparison to Elizabeth I. Victoria described Mary Queen of Scots as ”a model of perfection.” It shows great broadmindedness that she favoured a Catholic over a Protestant especially as her heroine had been convicted of high treason. Louise told Victoria that she would profit from the example of Elizabeth I who was more hard headed. ”I can pardon wickedness in a Queen but not weakness” said Lehzen.
As Queen Victoria entered adolescence Sir John Conroy became an increasingly important influence in her household. Conroy had been the confidante of her late father the Duke of Kent. Sir John Conroy came to have sway over the Duchess of Kent. Victoria’s uncle, King William IV, was a fan of Conroy. The king believed that Louise Lehzen could not possibly be up to the task of preparing Victoria to be head of state. The king insisted that Sir John Conroy be given a greater role in the tutelage of Victoria. Unfortunately, Sir John loathed Louise Lehzen. This was probably at least in party due to envy of Louise’s closeness to the future monarch. Fraulein Lehzen did not have an amicable relationship with Sir John Conroy but this was a reflection on Conroy and not on her. He was unable to establish a co -operative relationship with any of his colleagues. For instance Sir John Conroy described Leopold King of the Belgians as ”as great a villain as ever breathed.” Conroy called Victoria’s cousin Ernst Duke of Coburg ”a heavy handed humbugged German. Immoral” which evinces some Teutonophobia. Conroy called Baron Stockmar, ”a double face villain.” That he called Louise Lehzen ”a hypocritical and detestable bitch’‘ says more about Sir John that it does about Fraulein Lehzen. Conroy was sychophantic to the Duchess of Kent and viciously envious of anyone else whom he thought might win her respect.
John Conroy detested another member of the household Baroness Spath. Baroness Spath was also German and assisted Louise Lehzen. Conroy managed to have Spath dismissed for supposedly being a gossip. Lehzen was too important to be sacked. The dismissal of her friend made Louise Lehzen revile Conroy even more. Happily, Baroness Spath was found a position on the household of Princess Feodora in Germany. Victoria was worried that John Conroy would contrive an excuse to get rid of Louise Lehzen. Louise was Victoria’s boon companion. Victoria was worried because Conroy had the Duchess of Kent wrapped around his little finger. The Duke of Wellington was not alone in believing that Conroy was the paramour of the Duchess of Kent. As Victoria aged she became more independent minded. She was ever closer to Lehzen and the Duchess of Northumberland – her other governess. She turned more and more against Conroy and even against her mother.
The real reason for Conroy’s loathing for Louise Lehzen is laid bare by his statement, ”While eating her Mistress’s bread in the Palace that infamous woman wholly stole the child’s affections and intrigued with King William and Miss Wilson.” It is blatant that Sir John Conroy was merely jealous of the close relationship between Louise Lehzen and the princess. There is one thing that even Conroy agree on: Victoria loved her tutor. Note that when Louise Lehzen kept William IV informed about his niece Victoria’s progress this is regarded by Sir John Conroy as a conspiracy. Louise was convivial and thus managed to have productive working relationships with various courtiers such as Miss Wilson (Lady of the Bedchamber). The paranoiac Sir John Conroy regarded this as scheming.
Sir John Conroy devised the Kensington System for the upbringing of Victoria. The Duchess of Kent (Victoria’s mother) came to be persuaded that Sir John’s ideas were wise. He said that Victoria ought to be kept away from her louche uncles. They were notorious voluptuaries known for their languor and dissipation. Her uncles had private lives which can charitably called ‘colourful.’ Their interests consisted of gluttony, gambling, alcohol, opium and adultery. None of these were edifying for an impressionable adolescent.
There was some logic to Sir John’s approach in shielding Victoria from the immoral conduct of her uncles. On the other hand if Victoria was to be apprised of affairs of state she needed to spend time with her uncles. Despite their scandalous private lives these men knew much of public business. Some of Sir John’s critics felt that he merely wished to line his pockets by maintaining his post for as a long as possible. He was suspected of pecculation from the Duchess of Kent’s finances. Certainly his family had been relatively poor compared to the rest of the upper class when he entered royal service. By 1837 they were very well off indeed.
One Victoria’s younger uncles was the William, Duke of Clarence. The Duke of Clarence was anxious that Sir John Conroy had too much control over his niece. The duke’s wife, Adelaide, wrote to Victoria’s mother not to permit, ”Conroy too much influence over you but keep him in his place. …He has never lived in court circles or in society so naturally he offend sometimes against traditional ways for he does not know them. .. In the family it is noticed that you are cutting yourself off more and more with your child..” This William Duke of Clarence was later King William IV.
Victoria’s education was not solely academic. She was brought on trips around the country. One of the failings of her grandfather George III was that he rarely left London and almost never ventured outside of South-East England. Victoria visited Oxford in 1832. This was not simply to see and be seen. It was enabling her to know her future realm.
Lehzen was certainly successful in inculcating a lifelong love of learning into her pupil. Queen Victoria had a lively intellectual curiosity. She was also an extraordinarily prolific diary. She started her journal at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Miss Lehzen. It started on 31 July 1832 and was initially to record her tour of Wales. Victoria wrote an average of 2 500 words in her diary each day. This was a huge amount considering how busy she was to become as a sovereign and a mother of nine children. Her articulacy and his inquisitiveness are at least partly attributable to her governess. The queen was even more productive than we realise because many of her diaries were burnt by her family after her death. They edited the diaries and only published the less controversial and less personal passages. The unexpurgated diaries will of course have been longer than anything that the public has read. Louise is always ”dear Lehzen” in the diary.
Queen Victoria’s diaries are full of her heartfelt affection for Louise. Her voluminous diaries are surprisingly candid and emotional. Louise was the golden standard of both friendship and service for Victoria. The queen demanded her later friends and servants lived up to this but no one quite managed it. Louise’s presents to her pupil were always the most appreciated because they were chosen with the most care.
In her teens it became more and more obvious that Victoria would be queen. The United Kingdom had not had a Queen Regnant as opposed to a Queen Consort for well over 100 years. Victoria’s uncle Prince Charles of Leinigen was anxious that the teenager would be unable to fulfil her role unaided. He suggested a regent in the shape of Sir John Conroy. Conroy was a man of vaulting ambition and unequaled vanity. He jumped at the idea and may well have been its author. It did not come to pass. Even when Victoria was very ill Sir John entered her bedroom and demanded that she promise to make him regent. Louise Lehzen gave Victoria the confidence to refuse.
Conroy put it about that Victoria was weak-minded, slothful and totally unsuitable for monarch. He put down all these shortcomings to Louise’s misgovernment. As Victoria had to be queen a long regency was called for. This was a means of extending his control and lining his pockets.
Lady Flora Hastings became a companion of Victoria. This was by order of William IV. This was intended to reduce the influence of Louise. But Victoria was still closest to Louise and had little time for Lady Flora. Victoria came to hate Victoire Conroy – daughter of John Conroy. Conroy was trying to insinuate his daughter into the princess’ household.
From Lehzen’s point of view John Conroy was villainous. Conroy had his qualities but he is widely acknowledge to have been tactless and inept. It shows had superb Louise was that she managed to retain her position despite the enmity of John Conroy.
Louise was given many presents by Victoria. Victoria also made sure her governess had a prominent role in her rites of passage. For instance, she sat in the front row at Victoria’s confirmation. William IV refused to allow Conroy to enter the Chapel Royal for the event. The Duchess of Kent thought that Victoria’s confirmation made her an adult in some senses. Victoria was 16 and easily old enough to wed by the law of the time. The duchess wanted to put Louise out to grass. Victoria stuck up for Louise and insisted that she stay. In her diary Victoria wrote, ”I will become a dutiful and affection daughter to Mamma. Also to be to dear Lehzen who has done so much for me. ”
In August 1835 Victoria toured Great Britain. Lehzen accompanied her. The governess helped the princess pass the time by reading to her.
Louise was said not to be a good looking woman. Her nose was her worst feature. Nevertheless she was admired for her hairstyle and her tastefully demure clothes. Victoria insisted on imitating Lehzen’s hairstyle.
Louise had to nurse Victoria through a serious illness in the winter of 1835. She had to liaise between Victoria and Dr Clark as a physical examination of her by a male doctor was unacceptable. Conroy used the illness as a chance to attack Louise – blaming her for her pupil being unwell. Later Dr Clark ”restored her [Victoria] to her necessary peace of mind” said Lehzen. Victoria in her diary remarked on Louise’ solicitousness, ‘‘ Dear Lehzen has been so unceasing to me in her attentions that I shall never be able to repay her but by my love and gratitude. She is the most affectionate, detached and disinterested friend I have and I love her dearly for it. ” Victoria’s feet were cold as a result of her sickness. Louise took it upon herself to rub Her Royal Highness’ piggies to keep them warm.
Once Victoria recovered she began to take light exercise. A couple of times a week she would go for bracing walks. She liked to perambulate on Hampstead Heath. Hampstead Heath was then very much on the edge of London. Louise always accompanied her. They sometimes visited the Zoological Society of London as it was then called. We would now simply say ‘the zoo’. It had been opened only a few years before: in 1828. Naturally her governess was always with her. As Victoria blossomed into womanhood her governess was there as more of a chaperone. Victoria must never be alone with a man lest some rumour spread abroad that there had been any impropriety between her and a member of the opposite sex.
Victoria’s uncle Leopold was increasingly influential in her life when she was in her teens. Leopold knew that the way to Victoria’s heart was through Louise Lehzen. Victoria was then 17 and it was time to consider whom she might wed. Leopold was eager that Victoria should marry her first cousin Prince Albert. If Leopold was to persuade Victoria to marry Prince Albert then he must first persuade Louise of Albert’s merits. He wrote to Baroness Lehzen, ” I talk to you at length and speak through you to Victoria. For years Victoria has been treated as a mere subject for speculation. Her youth gave opportunities for a thousand avaricious schemes. Only you and I really care about her for her own sake. We were systematically persecuted because it was particularly feared that the child might grow fond of us. The chief plan has been since 1828 to drive you away. Had I not stood felt you might have followed Spath. Her 17th birthday marks an important stage in her life. Only one more year and the possibility of a Regency vanishes… This is the perfect time for us who are loyal to take thought for the future of the dear child. ” Leopold then emphasised that Victoria should marry Prince Albert forthwith. He went on to laud Prince Albert for his ”pure unspoilt nature.”
Louise Lehzen was circumspect about Victoria getting engaged to Albert. There was no need to rush into it. Other suitors should be considered. Some said that Louise had less high minded motives for wishing Victoria to tarry. If Victoria wed then Victoria was most certainly a grown woman and would have no need of a governess. Louise would lose her position at court. If Louise could not prevent marriage altogether she could at least delay it and draw her handsome salary for a few more years yet.
In May 1837 the nation jubilated Victoria’s 18th birthday. Louise Lehzen was prominent in the celebrations. There was bunting hung across High Street Kensington: this was just around the corner from Victoria’s domicile at Kensington Palace. Victoria was driven out of her palace in a coach to greet the elated crowds. Whom did Victoria choose to have beside her as she accepted the acclamation of her well wishers? It was not her mother but Louise. ”The demonstrations of loyalty and affection were highly gratifying” wrote Victoria in her trademark priggish style.
In 1837 William IV died. Victoria was proclaimed queen at the age of 18. Victoria quickly dismissed Sir John Conroy. He said he must be given a pension of GBP 3 000 per annum which was a jaw dropping sum at the time as well as a noble title. His impertinent insistence was rejected.
On the day Victoria ascended the Throne she wrote in her diary, ”My dear Lehzen will ALWAYS remain with me as she is my friend and she will not no situation but with me and I think she is right.”
Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace. Kensington Palace was too small and old fashioned for her. Louise came with her. She was made private secretary. She had the power to pay for bills or withhold payment. Victoria gave her mother, the Duchess of Kent, an apartment at the far end of Buckingham Palace. Louise’s bedchamber was right beside Victoria’s and had a connecting door.
Sir John Conroy had charge of Queen Victoria. He had a personality clash with Louisa Lehzen whom he described as ”a detestable bitch”. Such foul language was strong indeed for a more genteel era. This vulgar outburst reflects on Conroy and not on Louisa Lehzen.
Victoria was very eager to be shot of John Conroy. John Conroy demanded a massive pay off of GBP 10 000. Victoria’s mother had made promises to Conroy that her daughter would pay him this enormous gratuity and elevant him to the peerage. Victoria used Louise to convey messages to the Prime Minister that Conroy was not to receive this staggering sum nor was he to be made a peer of the realm. Conroy tried to browbeat Louise to no avail.
It was only when Victoria became queen that she slept alone. Up until that time Louise had slept in a bed at the foot of Victoria’s four poster bed. Victoria still wrote her journal as Louise had encouraged her to do in her girlhood. Only Louise was permitted to peruse Her Majesty’s inmost pensees.
Louise attended Victoria’s coronation. This was extremely sought after. Only a few hundred people could cram into Westminster Abbey and few had a good view of proceedings. The Prime Minister at the time, Viscount Melbourne, was high in laudanaum throughout. This derivative of opium was entirely legal as a recreational drug at the time.
One of Louise’s few failings is that she was perhaps too supportive of Victoria. She always backed Victoria’s wishes when sometimes Louise ought to have told her that she was in error.
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PRINCE ALBERT.
Victoria was told by the Prime Minister that she ought to wed. Louise tried to tell her not to marry. She should remain single like Queen Elizabeth I. Like most people Victoria wanted to marry and refused to be a virgin queen. Her choice fell upon her dear first cousin – Prince Albert. She married this German prince in 1840.
Louise Lehzen maintained her position. Her pupil still had much to learn. Louise Lehzen was a bosom companion and mentor as well. As many very serious duties were thrust upon Victoria it was reassuring to have a trusted figure from her childhood still with her. Louise Lehzen was granted the title Baroness. It was almost unheard of for a woman to be given a title in her own right. A woman might inherit a title or marry into such a title but to be awarded a title for her own merits was an astonishing feat.
Unfortunately for Louise Lehzen one of the most influential figures at court was Lady Flora Hastings. Lady Flora ”was violent against Lehzen” (in the metaphorical sense) as the Morning Post newspaper reported. Lady Flora Hastings was later the subject of much controversy. She was unwed and was accused of having a romantic liaison with Sir John Conroy who was a married man. Victoria too readily believed this because she disliked Lady Flora and abominated Sir John. Lady Flora ill and this was taken to be due to pregnancy. A whispering campaign against her made life unbearable. She summoned doctors to examine her physically. This was a very drastic measure for the time. In the early 19th century doctors (all male) almost never performed a physical examination on a female patient. They verified that she was not with child and indeed that she was as pure a virgin as the day that she was born. The luckless woman was indeed very unwell and died a few months after this false scandal erupted. As Conroy was a sworn enemy of Louise Lehzen he claimed that the specious claim that Lady Flora had been pregnant was first made by Louise. Lady Flora Hastings’ family was a wealthy and very notable one. It is unlikely that the bogus claim that Lady Flora was copulating was started by Louise but nevertheless Conroy managed to have Louise labelled as a calumniator.
Victoria had a soft spot for the elderly Whig Prime Ministers. Victoria used her extensive powers of patronage to grant court positions to Whig ladies. The Tory Party did not like this. The Tories were in the ascendant and clamoured to have Tory ladies appointed to court positions. Louise Lehzen was said to be part of a Whig cabal.
An anonymous pamphlet was circulated in London entitled ‘Warning Letter to Baroness Lehzen from beyond the grave.’ It was as though it was written by the late Lady Flora Hastings. It accused Baroness Lehzen of having far too much influence on Victoria and poisoning her mind.
Prince Albert moved to the United Kingdom. He was displeased to see Louise had as much influence over Victoria as he did. Despite her earlier misgivings Louise saw that Prince Albert was a suitable match for Victoria. Prince Albert and Victoria began spending much time with each other to see whether a marriage really could work. Louise professed herself to be delighted when the couple were plighted.
Not everyone was over the moon when Victoria’s engagement to Prince Albert was announced. Some accused Lehzen of bringing in yet another German into the court. The previous five British monarchs had married Germans so the British Royal Family could not be much more German than it already was. Baroness Lehzen was a useful scapegoat for those who disapproved of the Queen’s decisions but preferred not to attack the Queen directly.
The following piece of doggerel expressed the prejudice harboured by not a few:
He comes the bridegroom of Victoria’s choice
The nominee of Lehzen’s vulgar voice
He comes to take for better or for worse
England’s fat queen and England’s fatter purse.
One thing everyone can agree on is that for good or ill Baroness Lehzen had a great deal of sway with Victoria.
When it came to Victoria’s wedding say she had herself dressed by Baroness Lehzen. Louise did not usually perform this lowly task but on that day of all days Victoria wanted her governess’s personal touch. The wedding took place in the Chapel Royal which is a very small place of worship opposite St James’ Palace. Royal weddings were not large or extravagant affairs at the time.
Prince Albert at first found Lehzen useful. She knew Victoria better than anyone. She was a vital conduit for telling the Queen things that he did not wish to vouchsafe himself. Yet he quickly became wary and resentful of someone who was closer to his wife than she was. Albert was a man for whom the expression ‘serious’ might have been invented. He was an intellectual and unsmilingly sincere. He wished to be kept abreast of affairs of state. He was aghast that Victoria would consult the Prime Minister and Baroness Lehzen on political questions but not him. He could understand the Queen seeking the counsel of her PM but her governess? He was envious.
Despite the initial romance there were teething problems in the marriage. Prince Albert wrote, ”I could not be more unhappy.” Like many grooms he was having cold feet. The trouble was this was AFTER he had married Victoria. He reflected on the enormity of the duty he had assumed and the unclear parameters of a prince consort’s position.
The Queen became pregnant within weeks of her bridal night. Albert was not the only one who disliked Baroness Lehzen’s might. A courtier called Mr Anson wrote, ” Lehzen is taking advantage of the Queen’s illness to complain about the Prince’s conduct at a moment when due to natural excitability it could not fail to work strongly on the Queen’s mind. She is always in the Queen’s path always pointing and exaggertaitng every little fault of the prince, constantly misrepresenting him. ”
Perhaps it was Anson and not Baroness Lehzen who was unfair. Albert was not universally liked. His English was not fluent at first. He was haughty, humourless and too convinced of the inferiority of all things British. Prince consorts are often disliked for their wish to expand their role.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert disliked the fact that Lehzen’s bedroom adjoined that of Albert and his wife. He was stunned that Baroness Lehzen ran the household. The Master of Horse, the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward all reported to her. She was in charge of money. His privy purse was disbursed to him by Baroness Lehzen which he found to be deeply degrading. He accused Baroness Lehzen of laxity and profligacy. Here there is some merit to his allegations. British royal palaces were notoriously badly run in the 1830s. A palace was run by several teams of servants who did not co operate with each other. One team was to clean the inside of windows and another to clean the outside. Another team laid fires and still another lit them and another cleaned them afterwards. Teams of servants were always arguing it was another team’s duty to do something and not their own duty. Pilfering of candles, coal, firewood, food and wine was rife. Security was very slack. One homeless boy stole into Buckingham Palace and lived there for weeks. In the nighttime he would emerge to steal food. In the day he hid in chimneys. The palace was often cold for lack of fuel or because the fires had not been set or lit. The place was untidy and unclean.
He succeeded in having her position downgraded. She had some role in the upbringing of Queen Victoria’s first child who was also named Victoria! Queen Victoria was so elated with the way that Baroness Lehzen had raised her she naturally wished her governess to superintend her own children.
Prince Albert wrote of Louise Lehzen to Baroness Stockmar, ”Lehzen is crazy, stupid intriguer, obsessed with the lust of power, who regards herself as a demigod, and anyone who refuses to recognise her as such is criminal. I declare to you s my and Victoria’s true friend that I will sacrifice my own comfort, my life’s happiness to Victoria in silence, even if she continues in error. But the welfare of my children annd Victoria’s existence as sovereign are too sacred for me not to die fighting rather than yield them as prey to Lehzen.” This speaks volumes for Baroness Louise Lehzen’s might that Prince Albert accorded such a high priority to getting rid of her. She perceived herself as being important because she was important. She was due to play a crucial role in the upbringing of Victoria’s children who were babies at the time this letter was written.
Prince Albert became obsessed with having Louise dismissed. He wrote, ”The Queen has more fear than love for the baroness and she would really be happier without her though she would not acknowledge it. ” Albert was fooling himself.
Years later Victoria wrote in the third person, ” It was not personal ambition at all but the idea that no one but herself was able to take care of the queen and also she did not perceive till later that before leaving the Queen she told herself that people flattered her and made use of her for her own purposes. ”
Lord Melbourne believed that if Victoria were forced to choose between Albert and Baroness Lehzen she would choose the latter: ” Albert cannot argue that if he put it in a matter implying that either the baroness must go or he would not stay in the House owing to the Queen’s obstinacy and determination of her character her reply would be ” in this alternative you have contemplated the position of living without me, I will shew you that I can contemplate the possibility of living without you.” Poor Albert could do nothing but fume and dub his enemy House Dragon. ”
Victoria was eternally indebted to Baroness Lehzen. Queen Victoria mainly credited Lehzen with giving her the courage to stand up to Conroy’s bullying.
The Prince Consort became adamant that Baroness Lehzen must be retired. He wrote, ”All me disagreeableness comes from one and the same person and this is precisely the person Victoria chooses as her friend and confidante. ” Baroness Louise Lehzen asked that the income from the Duchy of Cornwall be used to fund the nursery. Her Majesty the Queen agreed. Albert was incensed. He correctly observed that theretofore the revenue of the Duchy of Cornwall had been entailed to the Prince of Wales. Indeed that is the case today. Edward VII, then an infant, was the eldest son of Albert and Victoria. The eldest son of the monarch is usually styled Prince of Wales.
Finally Victoria was cajoled into letting Baroness Lehzen go. Victoria wrote in her journal, ”Our position is different to that of other married couples. A is in my house and I not in his. I am ready to submit to his wishes as I love him so dearly.”
In 1842 Prince Albert succeeded in having Louise put out to grass. Queen Victoria awarded Louise Lehzen a very liberal pension of 800 sterling a year. For modern values put two zeroes on the end then multiply by two. On 30 September 1842 Louise Lehzen left the palace at dawn. The consummate professional, she was much to dignified to make a scene. Albert was then exultant. Baroness Lehzen returned to her native land. She remained in epistolary contact with Her Britannic Majesty. Queen Victoria always replied promptly to My Dear Lehzen. Baroness Lehzen never married. She died in 1870.