As I’m sure you’re all aware, today is William and Kate’s sixth wedding anniversary. I’m not sure if I’ve shared my Kate Middleton obsession on the blog, but I have spent time writing about the British royals, from Queen Elizabeth II to Netflix’s new drama The Crown to PBS’s show Victoria.
You also might know that I was fortunate enough to be studying abroad in the UK when Will and Kate got married, so we all woke up at 3:30 AM, hopped on a bus to London, and stood outside with thousands of other people hoping to get a glimpse of the royal couple. We got some pretty good pictures and really fun memories out of that day!
So, in celebration of one royal couple’s anniversary, I thought I’d share a review with you of a book that’s all about another famous royal couple: Victoria and Albert. We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals, by Gillian Gill serves as a biography of a great love story. More than that, however, the book is really an extensive biography of both Victoria and Albert, which will save you some time if you want to learn about both of them.
PBS’s series Victoria, which aired back in January, is what really got me interested in this famous power couple. The show paints their love story as beautiful and emotional. It’s a well-known fact that Victoria and Albert were ardently in love throughout their marriage, until Albert’s death at age 42. Well, that’s the official story. Though these two did love and cherish each other, Gill paints a portrait of a couple who still faced trying times. At times, Albert comes across as cold or overly political and dismissive of his wife. Victoria, also, can be seen as rather childish and petulant in some of her actions and attitudes. What I enjoyed most about this novel was Gill’s ability to show the humanity behind the paintings and the idealized “Victorian” image we have of that time period. Even the bumps in the road of their relationship show just how Victoria and Albert strengthened Britain and helped the monarchy become a lasting symbol of unity and longevity.
I listened to this book on Audible, and would highly recommend it to anyone who has seen the PBS show and wants to know how things really happened! It does drag a bit in the middle once the “romantic” part is over and the political aspects of their marriage kick in, but it’s a great overview of how these two met, married, and worked together.
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Sarah
Book Fifty 