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In this article, we will delve into the heart, mind, and secret writings of Queen Victoria. We will attempt to understand what emotions she may have been experiencing when she first came to the throne, and how she really felt about an exciting and experienced older man. Was it true friendship, daughterly adoration, a teenage crush, or even genuine love? Let us now step back into the 19th century, in the hope of discovering who these two people were, and why they might have become infatuated with one another. But first of all, we will begin by reviewing why modern audiences are so fascinated by the idea of the Queen and Lord Melbourne as a couple.Rumors of RomanceQueen Victoria Riding Out With Lord Melbourne, by Francis Grant, 1839-40. Source: The Royal CollectionThe idea that Queen Victoria was once in love with Lord Melbourne is controversial to say the least. When they first became acquainted, on the first day of her reign in June of 1837, their personalities and levels of experience in life could not have been more different. To begin with, Victoria was just 18; Melbourne was 40 years her senior. Victoria had led a sheltered life at Kensington Palace; Melbourne had been married and had fathered children. Victoria still possessed her youthful innocence; Melbourne had been abandoned by his wife and had allegedly partaken in numerous affairs himself. Most importantly of all, Victoria was the new Queen of England; Melbourne had been Prime Minister since April of 1835.Despite these differences, it is a known fact that Victoria and Melbourne became the closest of friends. Such constant companions were the pair that some of their contemporaries began to worry that they were a little too close for comfort. She was soon referred to in the press as Mrs Melbourne. The interest in their personal feelings has hardly died down over the last two centuries, for the theory that their relationship bordered on a romance is as popular in our modern world as it was in the late 1830s.The Queen and Lord M: On Screen and in LiteratureQueen Victoria and Lord Melbourne as portrayed by Jenna Coleman and Rufus Sewell in the ITV series Victoria. Source: PinterestOn August 28, 2016, the first episode of a new series was aired for the first time. The British television channel ITV had produced a new adaptation of the early life of Englands only 19th-century queen. It was simply called Victoria, and starred Jenna Coleman as the title character.Less than a year later, on January 15, 2017, the same episode aired in the United States on PBS. The response from viewers was nothing like what the creators had intended or even imagined. The audience were obsessed with the beautiful romance between the two main charactersQueen Victoria and Lord Mthat had been so innocently and skillfully brought to life.So taken with Lord Melbourne were the viewers that the actor Rufus Sewell suddenly became more popular with the female population than ever before. Comments in praise of his performance began to flood social media and even news headlines, The best-looking Prime Minister Ive ever seen, was one such post. No wonder Victoria is falling in love with him, was another. It wasnt long before Rufus Sewell was appearing on talk shows under his new epithet: Most fancied man in Britain. This notion was one that he enjoyed. Laughing on live television, he claimed that it was quite nice to be objectified.William Lamb (1779-1848), 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by John Hoppner, 1796. Source: The Royal CollectionIn many adaptations of Queen Victorias lifewhether in film, television, or literaturethere is usually some doubt left in regard to the nature of her relationship with Lord Melbourne. The infatuation is insinuated and suggested rather than explicitly displayed as an integral part of her story. In the 2009 film Young Victoria, for example, Queen Victoria relies on and is evidently greatly attracted to Lord Melbourne, but nothing significant ever comes from their relationship. Similarly, Jean Plaidy wrote a successful book of historical fiction entitled The Queen and Lord M, but nothing surprising or untoward occurs in this portrayal either.This is where Victoria is different. When watching any of the first three episodes of the series, the viewer is left in no doubt of Victorias romantic obsession with Melbourne, nor in any doubt that the feeling is returned by him. Melbourne entertains Victorias affections by dining, dancing, and flirting, but draws the line at the passionate embrace she so desperately craves. Nonetheless, after only just over two hours of screentime, their relationship reaches its peak. Unaccompanied, Victoria visits him at his family home of Brocket Hall and proposes marriage.Lord Melbournes feelings about this proposal are evidently conflicted. Although it is obvious he desires nothing more than to accept her offer, he turns her down out of a sense of duty, and his perception that someone else would make her life happy, and her reign successful, in the long term. She gazes hopefully into his eyes as he takes her hands in his. Her heart breaks as he lets her down as gently as he can. He explains his refusal by claiming he cannot possibly marry again after the death of his wife. This fictional scene is artfully depicted, heartbreakingly sad, and may bring a tear to the eye of even the strictest historians.Who Was William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne?Portrait of William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne, by John Partridge, 1844. Source: National Portrait Gallery, LondonAside from the fact that he is usually portrayed by an actor at least 20 years younger than he was, the real Lord Melbourne was probably not very different from those versions we see on television and in films. Like his onscreen representatives, the actual Lord Melbourne was experienced, witty, charming, charismatic, intelligent, caring, and confident. He was also notably good-looking, particularly during his younger years.However, having been born in the year 1779, Lord Melbourne was already 58 years old by the time Queen Victoria inherited her throne. To say that those years had been eventful would be an understatement. He had married, fathered a son, suffered the loss of that son, been left by his wife, and, as a final flourish to add to this rather depressing life story, had partaken in an adulterous affair with Lady Caroline Norton.That is not to say that nothing good had happened to him, for Lord Melbourne had succeeded in one area of his life. Politically speaking, his career was something to be envied. He had already served once as Prime Minister, between July and November of 1834, under King William IV. When Victoria became Queen on the 20th of June in 1837, Melbourne had been serving his second term as Prime Minister for around two years.Watercolour sketch of Caroline Norton, by Emma Fergusson, 1860. Source: Wikimedia CommonsLord Melbourne also had many interests outside the world of politics. The Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that, not believing that the world could be bettered through politics, he was always more interested in literature and theology.It was this sort of knowledge that impressed a naive and sheltered young woman such as Queen Victoria. In her diaries she wrote of Lord Melbourne that, he has such stores of knowledge, such a wonderful memory; he knows about everybody and everything; who they were and what they did. The diarist and courtier Charles Greville (1794-1865), recorded many snippets regarding Lord Melbournes treatment of Queen Victoria, and also Queen Victorias fascination with Lord Melbourne. He treats her with unbounded respect, he wrote, he consults her tastes and wishes and puts her at ease by his frank and natural manners, while he amuses her by his quaint, queer, epigrammatic turn of mind, and his varied knowledge upon all subjects.Reasons to Believe It May Have Been Love Over FriendshipThere are many reasons to believe that Queen Victoria was in love with Lord Melbourne. At the very least, there are many reasons to believe that she experienced a very strong attraction to him. We will explore just a few more of these reasons below.1. She Was Jealous and Unafraid to Show ItElizabeth Webster, Lady Holland, by Louis Gauffier, 1794. Source: Wikimedia CommonsLord Melbourne had a large social circle. To the disappointment and disapproval of the young Queen Victoria, many of these associates were female. She was jealous of the attention he paid other women, and unlike many young girls, she wasnt afraid of him finding out. In fact, perhaps with her newly found royal confidence, she conveyed her jealousy to him explicitly. Whenever Melbourne was not able to join her for dinner (which wasnt a common occurrence), she enquired after him and desired to know where he was going instead.Whenever Lord Melbourne was not at court she was envious of whichever women had supposedly lured him away. More often than Victoria liked, he dined with a woman named Lady Holland. After discovering his absence at dinner one evening, Victoria wrote in her diary, I WISH he had dined with me. When they saw each other the next day, Victoria meanly reminded him that Lady Holland was old enough to be her grandmother. With this statement, she seemed to imply that Lady Holland was not worthy of Melbournes affection on account of her age. Victoria then made the bold declaration that Lady Holland did not care for him half as much as she did, and even went as far as to claim that she was sure none of his other friends were as fond of him as she was.Young women are not usually so fixated on the whereabouts of someone who is just a friend. Neither are they obsessed with the notion of spending every minute with a man they consider only their private secretary. Victorias evident jealousy of other women is one of the most blatant signs of her romantic inclination.2. She Could Not Take Her Eyes Off HimQueen Victoria as portrayed by Jenna Coleman in the ITV series Victoria. Source: PinterestIt is human nature to look at things we find attractive. Queen Victoria did just that. Historians, diarists, and courtiers have described how the young Victoria would unconsciously follow Lord Melbourne with her eyes; how she would always appear to be aware of where he was and what he was doing. It has been recorded that she would pay particular attention to him if he got up to leave the room for a moment. Apparently, her eyes would appear to sigh with disappointment once he had left her presence.3. She Wouldnt Let Him GoA Satire of the Bedchamber Crisis, by John Doyle, 1840. Source: Royal Museums GreenwichThe Bedchamber Crisis occurred in 1839, when Queen Victoria faced the possibility of losing Lord Melbourne as her Prime Minister and Private Secretary. Having passed a government bill by a narrow margin of only five votes, he announced his intention to resign.It was Robert Peel who attempted to form a new government. To strengthen his cause, he requested that Queen Victoria replace some of her ladies in waiting. Her current household consisted of women connected to Lord Melbourne; they were the wives and associates of members of the Whig party. She denied the request, and in the hope of reinstating Lord Melbourne, refused to exchange a single lady.This whole affair may come across as petty to the 21st-century audience, but during the 19th century, it was integral to any potential prime minister that the reigning monarch comply with these expectations. Queen Victorias unwillingness to make any changes signified that Robert Peel did not have her support.Sir Robert Peel, by Henry William Pickersgill. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOf her decision, Queen Victoria wrote the following message to Lord Melbourne, Soon after this, Sir Robert said Now about the Ladies upon which I said I could not give up any of my Ladies and never had imagined such a thing; he asked if I meant to retain all; all I said; the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber? he asked. I replied all they were of more consequence than the others and I could not consent and that it had never been done before; he said I was a Queen Regnant and that made the difference; not here, I said and I maintained my right.As usual, Queen Victoria got what she wanted. Lord Melbourne was reinstated as Prime Minister, and Robert Peel had to wait his turn. It wasnt until the 1841 election that Robert Peel was appointed Prime Minister, and Queen Victoria finally agreed to make the switches. She agreed to the replacement of six ladies-in-waiting, exchanging whig-wives for conservative-wives.By this time, she was married to Prince Albert. She had her husband to turn to for love, comfort, political support, and advice. Therefore, by the time Robert Peel took office, Victoria was willing to let Lord Melbourne go.Life After Melbourne: Who Did Queen Victoria Actually Love?Prince Albert, by John Partridge, 1840. Source: The Royal CollectionOn February 10, during the year of 1840, Queen Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It is Albert who has gone down in history as the first and only serious love of Victorias life.To say that their relationship had progressed quickly would be an understatement, for she had proposed to him in October of the previous year, just five days after he had arrived at Windsor Castle on a visit to the British Court. In her personal diary, she had recorded her first impressions of Prince Albert with the following words: Albert really is quite charming, and so excessively handsome, a beautiful figure, broad in the shoulders and a fine waist. She finished this description with the phrase, my heart is quite going. Considering Victorias written confessions, it hardly seems realistic that she had been so devotedly in love with another man just a few days previously.The Wedding of Victoria and Albert, Engraved by S Reynolds after F Lock, 19th century. Source: PicrylAs far as Queen Victoria was concerned, the marriage was an immediate success. She famously called her wedding, and what naturally followed, the best day of her life. In her diaries, she described her wedding night with words that many husbands would envy: I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening! She began. My DEAREST, DEAREST DEAR Albert his excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! This enthusiasm didnt seem to wear off over time, for together, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had nine children. The couple were married for 21 years. Their union was cut short by Prince Alberts untimely death, at the age of just 42, on December 14, 1861.Life After Victoria: What Became of Lord Melbourne?Frederick Lamb, by John Partridge, 19th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAfter his parting from Queen Victoria, the life of Lord Melbourne only continued to go downhill. Two and a half years after Victorias marriage to Prince Albert, and around a year after his own departure from politics, Lord Melbourne suffered a stroke on October 23, 1842. Although he survived his illness he was severely weakened and failed to make a full recovery. He retired to his home of Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, where he died six years later, on November 24, 1848.Of his final years, the Encyclopaedia Britannica says, he left office after the conservatives had won the general election of 1841 and was permanently weakened by a stroke on October 23, 1842. He died without children, and the viscountcy went to his brother Frederick James Lamb.The body of Lord Melbourne was buried in a nearby church named St Etheldredas in Hatfield, and there is also a memorial to him in St Pauls Cathedral in London. Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria in Australia, was named in his honor in March of 1837.Was Queen Victoria in Love With Lord Melbourne?Queen Victoria and Lord Melbourne as portrayed by Jenna Coleman and Rufus Sewell. Source: PinterestThe question of whether Queen Victoria was in love with Lord Melbourne has been angrily argued by historians over the last two centuries. Their relationship is still the subject of much heated debate.Some adamantly refuse to believe that an 18-year-old girl could possibly have harbored romantic feelings for a man 40 years her senior. The young Victoria most certainly did not fancy her fat, aging prime minister, claimed The Telegraph. These words appeared as the headline to a review of the series Victoria.However, much of the evidence available to us appears to support the opposite theory. She wanted to sit near him for dinner every night. She was jealous of any other woman who caught his attention. She couldnt let him out of her sight. She did everything in her power to keep him from resigning as Prime Minister. She even went as far as to remember which pieces of jewellery he liked and purposely wore them to please him. Such was her devotion to him that she became known to the public as Mrs Melbourne.Queen Victoria, coronation portrait, by George Hayter, 1840. Source: Wikimedia CommonsBut does all this mean she was actually in love with him? When it comes to Victorias behavior towards him, were all these things motivated by adoration, or by something else altogether? Did she really think of marrying Lord Melbourne, or was she simply afraid of losing the man on whom she had grown so dependent?As disappointing as it is, there will never be a definitive answer to these questions. Without the ability to ask directly, we cannot find out what is truly happening in the heart and mind of another person. Even with the ability to ask directly, it would be impossible to guarantee receiving a truly honest answer.So, the modern historian is left with no choice other than to make their own assumption. Was it true friendship, daughterly adoration, a teenage crush, or even genuine love?Which seems most likely? That is for you to decide.

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If you ask me to name the game I'm most excited for this year, there's a 50/50 chance I'll say either Slay the Spire 2 or Crimson Desert. I've had the opportunity to play the stunning new open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss several times now, and have always come away desperate for more time to wrap my head around its combat nuances. It's a big project, feeling rather like The Witcher 3 but with way more high-octane combat. During the New Game+ showcase, director of PR Will Powers from Pearl Abyss revealed just how large its world is, and what we can expect to find.Read the full story on PCGamesN: High-octane RPG Crimson Desert has a world twice as big as Skyrim, yet its developer insists that "size doesn't matter"

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