How do you feel about Lord Melbourne? What might Victoria's life have been like if she had chosen him over Albert?

How do you feel about Lord Melbourne? What might Victoria's life have been like if she had chosen him over Albert?

I liked him as a person and as advisor to Victoria. If Victoria had insisted on a relationahip with him, I think her country would have rebelled as would Parliament. It would have cost her the admiration of her subjects and lost any sway she might to influence Parliament. It would also have been impossible for Lord M to continue as PM and teh loss to England would have been great.

I liked Lord Melbourne, too. I'm very curious as to how the mini series will treat him, with Rufus Sewell playing him.

I think that in the context of the novel Victoria would have never fully reigned or even become an adult had she been able to marry him by some means. Her marriage to Albert meant moving away from Melbourne's influence and becoming a stronger person.

I'm curious as to the author's choice about the romance aspect of the book. In my "extensive research" (i.e., 10 minutes on Wikipedia) it seems like they had more of a father-daughter relationship. I'd like to know if the relationship was truly more, or if that part was more fictional to make the story more interesting.

Kim thanks for your insight. I also wondered about the relationship as I had never heard of one. It's interesting to speculate what "if" for if she remained the Virgin queen it would have completely changed history for her off spring ruled most of the world that wasn't the empire.

I don't know if the relationship is accurately portrayed in the book/series but what I can say is that anyone who wants to check Queen Victoria's diaries can view all 43,000 pages online at http://qvj.chadwyck.com/marketing.do!

Regarding the facts in the book in general, I had my doubts when I read it a few months ago, but as I was on a plane at the time I wasn't able to fact check as I went along. By the time the flight ended I had scrawled 20+ notes to myself about things that I questioned. For example, today, there is simply no way that you can look out of any window in Buckingham Palace and see Marble Arch (situated at the top of Oxford Street), and to get from St James's Palace to Buckingham Palace you do not walk across the Mall as they do in the book, but instead walk either across Green Park or up the Mall. But it turns out I was wrong on both these points, as back at the start of Victoria's reign the Marble Arch was actually part of Buckingham Palace (later moved during an expansive remodel) and The Mall was a fashionable promenade where pall-mall was played (a game akin to croquet) - only in the 20th century was the ceremonial road now known as The Mall built.

So, to cut a long story short, I found that Ms Goodwin was right on every point I researched. Whether that means the relationship between Victoria and Melbourne is correctly portrayed I will leave to the first person to report back from the diaries! (Davina, BB Editor)

Update: I just tried to access the full journals I linked to above and frustratingly now realize they are only available to people logging in from the UK, but there are snippets from them in various places on the web such as https://www.royal.uk/sites/default/files/media/victoria.pdf

Not to mention all the royals who had hemophilia as a result of her marrying her first cousin!

I actually though Victoria and Melbourne should have thrown caution to the wind and given in to their love. Politics be damned!

I can't even imagine. I felt their relationship was so valuable because it wasn't romantic then all of a sudden it changed. Lord M was such a great advisor and friend to Victoria. I can certainly understand that a young woman might develop a huge crush on such a man but fortunately they were never on the same page. I can't imagine any way in which the relationship would have been more beneficial if they were married and can think of several disadvantages from such a liaison.

As he was initially described as a womanizer I had my doubts about him. However, he proved to be a devoted aide in guiding the young queen and I felt he always had her best interests at heart. I think without his devotion and guidance she would have floundered and suffered for an extended period. I think she was very fortunate to have had him in her life.

Had she married Melbourne, I don't think she would've developed into the independent and strong monarch she ultimately grew into. She also would've been a young widow

I felt Mebourne was an honorable man who put his country before himself. I do believe he had feelings for Victoria, but realized he would put his country's welfare at stake if he followed them. I also respected him for his devotion to his late wife, although she might not have deserved it.
It would have been a mistake for Victoria to have chosen Melbourne over Albert. It would have been a scandal and weakened the monarchy and both his and her credibility.

I think Lord Melbourne was an amazing mentor to Victoria and helped her in so many ways. Without his help, she would not have been able to step into the leadership role so quickly. She may have allowed her mother to interfere more with affairs. I do think it was a crush, not true love. Melbourne did the right thing by not pursuing her fully.

Historically this romance did not exist, according to my research which took me to numerous historical sites that do not mention it, and several British book reviewers who had read her diary and who also point out, at that time in his life, Lord Melville was extremely corpulent, hardly likely to appeal to a young woman who made such frank comments about Albert's physical charms in his thin white breeches with nothing else underneath.

It would have been nice if Goodwin had included an author's note clarifying what sources she relied on besides the diary, and what liberties she took with the historical story, as most writers of historical fiction do.

IF this had ever happened, obviously it would never have been accepted by Parliament or the public.

If the novel hadn't been based on fact, I think I would have been rooting for the Russian prince.

I'm very curious about her diaries. Every time I see an excerpt from them Victoria comes across as very young & immature, and not at all well educated (at least, not able to write well). I'd love to see if she was a better author as she aged. Seems like those diaries would have to be an incredibly valuable resource.

Lord Melbourne was a much needed mentor for Victoria. At times a father figure, a confidant and then a possible love interest. It seems a normal progression that their relationship went to where Victoria would want to marry Melbourne. If she had, she may have relied on his judgement more than her own. Politically, it could have been suicide for them both.

I think he was a good mentor and adviser to her as a new Queen. I think he was too old for her as a romantic partner besides all the other reasons they were unsuited. It was best for history and for Victoria that she chose Albert. I think she would have not had her large family with Lord Melbourne. Her family was very important to history.

He was an astute and admirable mentor. Having not seen any of the diary pages, it is hard to know how much to depend on Goodwin's portrayal of the relationship as opposed to what happened in reality. Had Melbourne not been on the scene, I suspect Victoria's mother would have prevailed in running her daughter's life by allowing others to assume the authority.

Lord Melbourne is presented fairly well as an advisor to the Queen. I could definitely see how the attraction could develop. For Victoria, he was someone whom she could depend on for advice but he did not discount her as just being a young, silly, girl. Instead, he shrewdly assessed her as a determined young woman who did not want to be "ruled." His attraction to her was obvious for a man who is initially described as a "womanizer." He had to enjoy having her adoration and, of course, her reliance on him added to his overall power. In the end, he showed that he was, indeed, a wise, older man who recognized that this would not be a good move, for himself as a politician, for her or for the country. I think the most admirable thing about him was the description of his devotion and care for his deceased wife, Caroline.

I'm disappointed that the author chose to dwell on a romantic relationship between the Queen and Lord M. I suspect, as did someone who posted above, that their real relationship was not so romantic, but one of advice and support. More of a fatherly relationship. So I'm getting tired of the romance suggestion and wish Albert just hurry and get on the scene!

I think, in the end, Lord M proved to be Victoria's truest friend. He knew what was best for her and for England and made the ultimate sacrifice: he gave up his claim as her best adviser, sensing that Albert would adequately fill that role. I liked him, very much.

I liked Lord M very much. He was true to himself, to his country and to his monarch. He gave Victoria support and knowledge when she needed it most. Without him, she may not have developed into the successful monarch that she became.