The Sad Queen

In which G.M. Norton talks queens. 

Yesterday marked the 200th year since Queen Victoria was born.

I really need to watch the television series starring the lovely Jenna Coleman. We caught an episode when we were on holiday once and enjoyed it enormously.

I've always had a fascination with the Victorian era. My childhood love of Sherlock Holmes and a macabre interest in the grisly murders of Jack the Ripper helped with that. 

I always picture a stern looking monarch, dressed in black to mourn the death of her husband Albert. 

The look of love

I was reading about Queen Victoria this week and discovered some interesting things that I thought I'd share. 

Around the time she married, ladies would typically wear their favourite dresses in whatever colour they happened to be. Victoria worn a white lace number, which then started the tradition of brides white wedding dresses. 

The queen was only 4ft 11 tall so had to be seated on a raised platform during events. My grandfather was under five foot too, which probably explains why I'm also vertically challenged. Princes William and Harry seem to have avoided the same fate, no doubt aided by careful breeding selection. 

There are lots of places dotted around the globe named after Victoria. Namely the state of Queensland in Australia, the city of Victoria in Canada, Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe and Victoria Square in Athens.

Queen Victoria was also the first monarch to set up home at Buckingham Palace. 

I like having monarchs in Britain. Yes, they're not elected, but better the devil you know. And at least they have never climbed on a dragon and burned cities into ashes. 

G.M. Norton

Protagonist of 'Norton of Morton'