victoria and albert

In a double-length World Photography Day special episode, we reflect on photography’s 150+ year history with historian and longtime curator of photography at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Susanna Brown.

Following this, host Ilvy Njiokiktjien leads a discussion about where photography started for our guests Canon Ambassadors Ahmet Polat and Bruno D’Amicis. We’ll hear the entertaining and emotive stories of their photographic journeys – reminding us that it all started somewhere, even for the most successful photographers among us...

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When Victoria and Albert married in 1840, they consciously set about improving the image of the monarchy. Creating a family Christmas, with children gathered around the tree, was an essential part of this. With their Christmas tree as a centerpiece, the royal family was ready to create a picture-perfect Christmas. In 1848, the Illustrated London News featured a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree. Eager to share the image of family-centered royals, especially at Christmas, Victoria and Albert were happy to have the image published. The popularity of the Christmas tree grew rapidly in Britain after the image appeared. 

A few years later, in 1860, an image of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children decorating the tree was featured in Godey’s Lady’s Book. The growing popularity of Christmas and the Christmas tree helped make the royal family seem like a benefit to the British people. Even into the 20th century, images of the young Victoria and Albert decorating the Christmas tree continued to emerge. For example, in the 1910 Life of Queen Victoria for Boys and Girls by Alice Corkran features an image of the young queen and prince consort, with a couple of their young children, decorating the Christmas tree. The image of the royal family celebrating around a Christmas tree became permanently connected with Victoria’s reign. 

Like A Christmas Carol, the popularity of A Visit from St. Nicholas helped shape the perception of Christmas and continues to do so today. Likewise, the efforts of Victoria and Albert, supported by economic and technological advances, were essential to the transition of Christmas from a quiet celebration at the beginning of the 19th century to the modern celebration we enjoy today.

Let's shake up history together!
@shakeuphistory

Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today those objects are housed in genteel institutions across the UK and the world. They usually come with polite plaques. The ABC podcast Stuff the British Stole is a six episode series about the not-so-polite history behind a few of those objects.

We’re going to play the first episode and Roman talks to the presenter and creator Marc Fennell about the series.

Stuff the British Stole

For much of royal history, Kings literally ruled. And a King’s primary job description was to ensure peace and prosperity at home, protect against enemies abroad, and secure the succession. Be a judge, be a soldier, be a dad. A King’s success was typically judged against these criteria, at least through the Middle Ages and into the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Then Queens took the throne, which shifted the focus on family roles somewhat. Parliament began to take more control. A constitutional monarchy emerged. Still, the focus on fathers continued well into the 20th century.

We’re going to take a look at five royal fathers: Henry II, Edward III, Henry VIII, Prince Albert, and George VI. For all, we’ll be considering this well-known question: Does father know best?

We start with a first and a second: first Plantagenet King and second husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II. Henry produced many sons and created a dynasty. Not a bad start.

And now on to Edward III. Edward and Philippa produced 13 children, 9 of whom lived to adulthood. He had an impressive five sons, although the descendants' behavior implies that might have been too many.

Next up: Henry VIII, one of the most famous…and infamous…royal fathers. The obsession of his life and his reign was laser focused on the goal of producing a son. So after all that effort to finally have a son, what kind of father was he?

Our next royal father was never King himself, but he was father of a King and some Queens, and grandfather of many royals all across Europe. I’m speaking of Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria.

Our final father is quite recent: George VI, the father of the current Queen. It’s easy to see how George VI’s dedication to his family benefitted his daughters and his nation.

Let's shake up history together!
@shakeuphistory

When Victoria and Albert married in 1840, they consciously set about improving the image of the monarchy. Creating a family Christmas, with children gathered around the tree, was an essential part of this. With their Christmas tree as a centerpiece, the royal family was ready to create a picture-perfect Christmas. In 1848, the Illustrated London News featured a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree. Eager to share the image of family-centered royals, especially at Christmas, Victoria and Albert were happy to have the image published. The popularity of the Christmas tree grew rapidly in Britain after the image appeared. 

A few years later, in 1860, an image of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children decorating the tree was featured in Godey’s Lady’s Book. The growing popularity of Christmas and the Christmas tree helped make the royal family seem like a benefit to the British people. Even into the 20th century, images of the young Victoria and Albert decorating the Christmas tree continued to emerge. For example, in the 1910 Life of Queen Victoria for Boys and Girls by Alice Corkran features an image of the young queen and prince consort, with a couple of their young children, decorating the Christmas tree. The image of the royal family celebrating around a Christmas tree became permanently connected with Victoria’s reign. 

Like A Christmas Carol, the popularity of A Visit from St. Nicholas helped shape the perception of Christmas and continues to do so today. Likewise, the efforts of Victoria and Albert, supported by economic and technological advances, were essential to the transition of Christmas from a quiet celebration at the beginning of the 19th century to the modern celebration we enjoy today.

Let's shake up history together!
@shakeuphistory

Welcome to Past Loves - the new weekly history podcast that explores affection, infatuation and attachment across time.

 This week I am joined by Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author and historian Helen Rappaport to discuss the relationship between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

 The union of Victoria and Albert is almost mythologised within our collective consciousness and of course, we all know the extent to which Victoria mourned and memorialised Albert after his untimely death. This was a love match. And yet, Helen and I delve behind the fairytale royal romance to discover more about this tumultuous love affair over the years and its enduring legacy.

 Where To Find Us

 Helen's book Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert and the Death That Changed the Monarchy is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Obsession-Victoria-Changed-Monarchy-ebook/dp/B005LPE582/

Helen's book The Victoria Letters: The Official Companion to the ITV Victoria Series (2016) is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victoria-Letters-Official-Companion-ITV/dp/0008196834/

 Discover more about Helen HERE

Watch Lucy Worsley's Royal Photo Album: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000j45l/lucy-worsleys-royal-photo-album

The transcript for this podcast episode can be found here: https://pastlovespodcast.co.uk/2020/05/16/were-victoria-and-albert-happy/

If Past Loves has become your current love be sure to follow the conversation on Instagram @pastlovespodcast and you can also email me at pastlovespodcast@gmail.com