Queen Victoria profoundly blamed her eldest son, Edward, Prince of Wales (affectionately known as Bertie), for the stress she believed contributed directly to the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert.
The Roots of Victoria's Blame
Victoria held a deep conviction that the distress and anxiety caused by Bertie's conduct placed immense strain on Albert. She firmly believed this cumulative stress significantly weakened his health and ultimately led to his "downfall." The specific details of Bertie's behavior that so troubled Albert are often cited as a contributing factor to the emotional burden Albert carried.
Albert's Concern for His Heir
Prince Albert had dedicated himself tirelessly to shaping Edward into a fitting monarch, a role Edward often struggled to embrace with the seriousness his father expected. Albert, a man deeply committed to duty, moral rectitude, and strict adherence to his ideals, was reportedly distraught by his son's perceived indiscretions and lack of academic focus. The perceived failures and the general conduct of his heir weighed heavily on Albert, who had meticulously planned Edward's education and moral development.
Victoria's Immediate Reaction and Consequences
Following Albert's death, Victoria's grief was overwhelming and profoundly intertwined with her resentment towards Edward. Her blame was so intense that for a period, she refused even to see the young prince. Demonstrating her displeasure and perhaps hoping for his reform, Victoria sent Edward away on an extended journey abroad just weeks after his father's passing. While ostensibly presented as an opportunity to complete his practical education, this trip also served as a clear sign of his mother's profound displeasure and a means to distance him from the immediate scene of her sorrow and accusation.
This deep-seated blame cast a long shadow over their relationship, significantly impacting the dynamics within the royal family for many years and contributing to Victoria's prolonged period of mourning and withdrawal from public life.
