Column takes swipe at Queen Victoria

The Observer’s column for the fairer sex, Women’s Chat, stumbled into controversial territory with an attack on Queen Victoria 100 years ago this week.

The paper described the Queen – who died in 1901 after 64 years on the throne – as an“ardent lover of peace”.

But it was noted that her eldest grandson, Kaiser Willhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia, had prompted the war which“plunged nations into untold misery and suffering”.

It was hoped that when the fighting was brought to an end, the world would “find ways of making itself secure from the evil influences of war-makers in palaces”.

Looking back over history, Women’s Chat speculated that if Queen Victoria had not married into German nobility when she wed Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Britain would have gone to the aid of Denmark when Prussia and Austria attacked that country in 1864.

“That was Prussia’s first bid for world power and had it been nipped in the bud the long story of German aggression might perhaps never have been written,” said the paper.

“But Queen Victoria wanted above all things to see Prussia strong and she was opposed to (Prime Minister) Lord Palmerston adopting any policy that would weaken her (Prussia).”

The Queen’s‘hands off ’Prussia view also gave the Prussians a free hand to annexe SchleswigHolstein from Denmark as part of moves to create a unified Germany.

Women’s Chat said the Royal household was divided over the Prussian attack on Denmark.

“Queen Victoria would not have (the subject) mentioned at table but the sympathies of Britain and Lord Palmerson were wholly with Denmark,”said the paper.