5 Facts You (Probably) Don’t Know About the Victorian Era

Queen Victoria’s son was a naughty boy

A painting of Queen Victoria by Heinrich von Angeli, 1875 (Wikimedia Commons)

British people have a strange relationship with the Victorian era.

Sometimes, we look back in disgust at the wretched levels of inequality and the grotesque conditions of urban slums. But on the other hand, there’s a romantic quality to this era thanks to the fabulous boom in art, literature, and scientific innovation.

Given Queen Victoria reigned for over sixty years, there are plenty of small details that are easy to miss. For those who want some fresh insights into the Victorian era, these five facts should satisfy your needs.

1. Queen Victoria’s Son Was Involved in a Notorious Sex Scandal

A photograph of Prince Albert by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, 1856 (Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Victoria had nine children. Her eldest son Albert (who took the name Edward when he became King) was difficult from the outset. While his father was disciplined, intelligent, and stoic, Albert hated his lessons and had a tendency to throw tantrums.

The problems didn’t go away when he became an adult, and he continued to rebel by gambling, drinking, and…