Queen Victoria, Prince Albert & their times
Helen’s work on the life of Victoria embraces every aspect of her life and reign, from youthful impetuosity, through marriage, childbirth, bereavement and her long widowhood
“Rappaport writes about her subject with zest and energy, retaining the narrative pace … with interesting facts … she shows great sympathy towards Victoria as a woman.”
LITERARY REVIEW
This page is a portal into Helen’s work on Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their times. Scroll down for links to her books on this topic and to articles & latest media resources.
Books about Queen Victoria, Prince Albert & their times
The Victoria Letters
A Magnificent Obsession
Queen Victoria - a biographical companion
Capturing the Light
Helen talks about the death of Prince Albert
Helen talks to Tony Robinson about Queen Victoria & Prince Albert in Scotland
From 40th minute
Helen talks to Lucy Worsley about Victoria’s grief following the death of Prince Albert
From 30th minute
Helen talks to Lucy Worsley about Victoria & Albert’s bedchamber
From 52nd minute
Latest Articles and Media about Queen Victoria & Prince Albert
Mad Lord Adolphus, Lady Susan and Bertie’s Baby
Even Queen Victoria, who privately loved tittle-tattle but never admitted to it, could not resist being drawn into the saga of mad Lord Adolphus Vane-Tempest and his poor wife Susan…
The Curious Tale of Queen Victoria’s dresser
From Windsor Castle to North Dakota – a fascinating tale of pioneer spirit and triumph over adversity by English immigrants.
Prince Albert’s Birth: Is there any truth in the rumours of illegitimacy?
Books in English often do not have very much to say about Albert’s mother, Princess Luise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. Did her husband’s womanising push her into the arms of another man?
Charlotte von Siebold – the Pioneering German Midwife who delivered Queen Victoria
At the time of the future Queen Victoria’s birth, ‘the excellent Mademoiselle Siebold’ emerged from the delivery room to announce the birth of a girl to the gathered dignitaries with considerable delight, adding in her thick German accent: ‘Verr nice beebee. No big but full. You know, leetle bone, mush fat.’
Queen Victoria: Pet Names, Titles, Nicknames & Aliases
During her 63 year reign Queen Victoria acquired a wealth of these. Many were complimentary and affectionate, some were ironic or satirical, and others were downright rude…
The Victorian Christmas
The cosy Dickensian Christmas referred to in Queen Victoria’s diary for Christmas Eve 1860, was in great part popularized by Victoria and Albert after their marriage in 1840. During the 21 years that followed they did much to set their own particular stamp on how the festival is celebrated in this country.
Back Home in Dickensland
As children we were fearless. Mean, and muddy, and at times dispiriting it may have been, but the Medway Estuary was our paradise. My own daydreams draw me there still…
Sarah Forbes Bonetta: the Captive African Princess Gifted to Queen Victoria
In its Christmas Special for December 2017 the ITV series Victoria featured the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a captive African princess who was brought to the court of Queen Victoria. She has frequently been described as the Queen’s goddaughter’ but this is not in fact true…
Queen Victoria’s dress sense – or lack of it
Queen Victoria’s dress sense – or rather, lack of it – was a subject that regularly provoked the despair of her courtiers. Despite his best efforts, the court painter, Franz Winterhalter, who painted some of the most fashionable women in Europe, could not disguise Victoria’s slightly provincial air…
Queen Victoria’s Passion for Photography
The 63-year reign of Queen Victoria brought with it much invention and innovation, but nothing has probably been more significant in defining the mental picture we all of have of her and Victorian everyday life than the photograph.