Queen Victoria in her Journal – 18 April 1839
Lord M.1 then said, “Now Ma’am, for this other matter.” I felt terrified (foolishly) when it came to the point; too silly of me to be frightened of talking to him. Well, I mustered up the courage, and said that my Uncle’s great wish – was – that I should marry my Cousin Albert – who was with Stockmar – and that I thought Stockmar might have told him so Lord M. said, No – Stockmar had never mentioned a word but, that I had said to my Uncle, I could decide nothing until I saw him again. ‘That’s the only way,’ said Lord M. ‘How would that be with the Duchess?’ he asked. I assured him he need have no fear whatever on that score; then he said, ‘Cousins are not very good things,’ and ‘Those Coburgs are not popular abroad; the Russians hate them.’ I then said, who was there else? We enumerated the various Princes, of whom not one, I said, would do. For myself, I said, at present my feeling was quite against ever marrying. ‘It’s a great change in the situation,’ he said. ‘It’s a very serious thing, both as it concerns the Political effect and your own happiness.’
I praised Albert very much; said he was younger than me. I said Uncle Ernest pressed me much about it; Lord M. said if one was to make a man for it, one would hardly know what to make; he mustn’t be stupid – nor cunning. I said by all that I heard, Albert would just be the person. ‘I think it would be wished for; still I don’t think a foreigner would be popular,’ said Lord M. I observed that marrying a subject was making yourself so much their equal, and brought you so in contact with the whole family. Lord M. quite agreed in this and said, ‘I don’t think it would be liked; there would be such jealousy.’ I said, why need I marry at all for 3 or 4 years? Did he see the necessity? I said I dreaded the thought of marrying; that I was accustomed to have my own way, that I thought it was 10 to 1 that I shouldn’t agree with anybody. Lord. M said, ‘Oh! But you would have it still'(my own way)2
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