Writing Assignment #4!

VICTORIA, QUEEN OF THE WORLD

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a princess? Some girls think that princesses sit around all day playing with a golden ball or singing and dancing. Other girls think that princesses are always beautiful and live happily ever after. Little “Princess Drina” was not like that at all.

Her Royal Highness Alexandrina Victoria was born May 24, 1819. Her father was Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and her mother was Princess Victoria Mary Louisa, Duchess of Kent. Her grandfather, George the Third, was the king. Her mother called her “Drina” because she was small and Alexandrina is a very long name! Princess Drina’s life was not happy very long. Her father died when she was eight months old and her grandfather, King George, died before her first birthday. Her uncle, King George the Fourth, was now the king.

Drina lived in London in a castle called Kensington Palace with her mother and her governess Louise Lehzen. (A governess is a lady who lives with and teaches children who do not go to school.) Sir John Conroy, her mother’s advisor—someone who gives advice and manages the money—also lived in the palace with his family. Drina’s mother was very protective. She and Sir Conroy set up the “Kensington System”, a strict set of rules that Drina had to obey. She was never allowed to be in a room by herself, she had to hold someone’s hand to go up or down the steps, and she had to share a room with her mother. Also, she could not invite friends over to play, visit a friend’s house, or go to school! Princess Drina did not like the “Kensington System” so sometimes she would be disobedient on purpose. She would refuse to do her schoolwork, not listen to Sir Conroy, and be rude to her mother.

Even though Drina did not go to school, she still had lessons every day. Her mother and her governess, Lehzen, chose what she would study. Her uncle Leopold, her mother’s brother, also helped decide what she needed to learn. Drina studied history, geography, and arithmetic as well as drawing, music, and the Bible. Girls did not study science when she was growing up. By the time she was eighteen, Drina could speak and write in German, English, and French. She enjoyed reading books, playing the piano, and going to theater. The princess loved to draw and write, so she began to keep a journal about her life when she was thirteen. Sometimes she would illustrate her entries, meaning she would add her own drawings to show what she had written. She continued to keep a journal, or diary, for the rest of her life!

Though she was a princess, her family did not have a lot of money. Her father was dead and her mother could not work, so they had to depend on her uncle, the king, for money. When Drina was eleven, her uncle—King George the Fourth—died. Her other uncle, William, became the new king because George and his wife had no children. King William and Queen Adelaide did not have children either, so little Princess Drina became “heir apparent”, meaning she would be the next ruler. Now her life was not so quiet and boring. As “heir apparent” she was suddenly very important! Her uncles, Leopold and William, wanted her to study more about history and government so she would know how to be a good queen.

Sir Conroy, though, did not want her to study because he thought she was too young to rule a country. He wanted her mother and him to make the decisions, not Drina. The princess did not like Sir Conroy and did not want him telling her what to do when she was queen. She knew she could rule on her own. Governess Lehzen knew that Drina would be a good queen as well, so she helped her study and taught her how to behave as a queen should. The young princess also decided that she did not want to be called Drina anymore. She thought it was childish and preferred her middle name, Victoria. Now she was called Her Royal Highness, Princess Victoria.

Victoria turned eighteen on May 24, 1837. She could now legally rule on her own without the help of Sir Conroy or her mother. Weeks later, her uncle William died. Princess Victoria was now Her Majesty, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland! June 28, 1838 was Victoria’s coronation where she was formally crowned queen. She ruled Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, India, and parts of Africa and the Caribbean for 64 years. She is the longest reigning British monarch. She and her husband, Albert, had nine children, 40 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren. Her great-great granddaughter, Elizabeth, is the Queen of the United Kingdom today. Queen Victoria died January 22, 1901 when she was 81 years old. Little Princess Drina had grown up to be the most powerful woman in the world.

Be Thou My Vision

Whenever I find myself getting bogged down with "life" and begin to worry about the future that 1. I cannot control and 2. is constantly in motion, God brings this song to mind and it has become my prayer. "Jesus, be my Vision, waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light...my Sword, my dignity, my delight...my Treasure, my Victory...And my Peace...WHATEVER BEFALL, RULER OF ALL!"

Be Thou My Vision
Ancient Irish hymn, possibly from the 8th Century, tr. by Mary E. Byrne

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Here's a link to a good video version of the song. It's actually Robin Mark singing it from the CD "The Mandate", not Stuart Townsend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstKjGb6uAE&feature=related