_From the picture by H. T. Wells, R.A., at Buckingham Palace_

T.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF KENT AND THE PRINCESS VICTORIA.
_From the miniature by H. Bone, after Sir W. Beechey,
at Windsor Castle_

H.R.H. THE PRINCESS VICTORIA, 1827. By Plant, after Stewart.
_From the miniature at Buckingham, Palace_

H.M. KING WILLIAM IV. _From a miniature at Windsor Castle_

H.R.H. THE PRINCE CONSORT, 1840. _From the portrait by John Partridge
at Buckingham Palace_

H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA, 1841. _From the drawing by E. F. T.,
after H. E. Dawe, at Buckingham Palace_

* * * * *

CHAPTER I

THE ANCESTRY OF THE QUEEN--HOUSES OF BRUNSWICK, HANOVER, AND COBURG

QUEEN VICTORIA, on her father's side, belonged to the House of
Brunswick, which was undoubtedly one of the oldest, and claimed to be
actually the oldest, of German princely families. At the time of her
birth, it existed in two branches, of which, the one ruled over what
was called the Duchy of Brunswick, the other over the Electorate
(since 1815 the Kingdom) of Hanover, and had since 1714 occupied the
throne of England. There had been frequent intermarriages between the
two branches. The Dukes of Brunswick were now, however, represented
only by two young princes, who were the sons of the celebrated Duke
who fell at Quatre-Bras. Between them and the English Court there was
little intercourse. The elder, Charles, had quarrelled with his uncle
and guardian, George IV., and had in 1830 been expelled from his
dominions. The obvious faults of his character made it impossible for
the other German princes to insist on his being restored, and he had
been succeeded by his younger brother William, who ruled till his
death in 1884. Both died unmarried, and with them the Ducal family
came to an end. One Princess of Brunswick had been the wife of George
IV., and another, Augusta, was the first wife of Frederick I., King
of Wuertemberg, who, after her death, married a daughter of George III.
The King of Wuertemberg was also, by his descent from Frederick Prince
of Wales, first cousin once removed of the Queen. We need only notice,
in passing, the distant connection with the royal families of Prussia,
the Netherlands, and Denmark. The Prince of Orange, who was one of the
possible suitors for the young Queen's hand, was her third cousin once
removed.

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]

The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, to which the Queen belonged