Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
In 1840, the 20 year old Victoria married Prince Albert as she recounts their passionate wedding night "It was a gratifying and bewildering experience. I never, never spent such an evening. His excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness. He clasped me in his arms and we kissed each other again and again."
The young Queen Victoria relied heavily on her husband's advice and he became a great influence in Victoria's decisions while he reigned as Queen. It was said she was most involved in political and royal duties while he was still alive, than when he was dead as though he provided that spark she needed to be the best she could be. She admired him and was completely devoted to him, and did nothing without her husband's approval.
Prince Albert became known and admired for his honesty, diligence, and his devotion to his family. During their marriage they had 9 children, whom she was also playfully added got involved in their love making. "She enjoyed the physical side of their relationship - but rarely the consequences. At one point, she had nine children under 15 and deeply resented the physical and emotional repercussions of child-bearing, because pregnancy and babies got in the way of sex." Even though it was rumoured they had a great sex life, it remained in their marriage.
In 1861 Prince Albert died and Victoria was utterly devastated. She would not show her face in public for three full years. Victoria ruled for 63 years and adored Albert so much that she refused to wear anything but black to show her mourning for her husband, which she did for 40 years.
The love story such as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert can be anyone's love story. Love is a choice, and is something worth fighting for such as Sarah Sarah Ferguson regretfully speaks about. Fighting for your marriage is not for when things go wrong, but a choice every day. Truly loving can be shown through serving your husband or wife and putting their needs first and sacrificing your own. Building that love in your marriage can be attained by guarding it. Turning your head at the seductive draws of the world, and not allowing anyone to come between you and yours. Guarding your love is being aware of temptations. Albert, knew these basic principles when he obviously introduced a strict dress in court and made a point of straitlaced behavior.
Even though Queen Victoria ruled a nation, she sumbitted to her husband, showing the love and respect of building up the very man that lead her every day. Victoria and Albert knew the secret of marriage which is simply given in Ephesians 5:21-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7, and their passion and love and success was a testimony to that secret.
Emily Blunt, who plays Victoria, in 'The Young Victoria' as saying "They really were made for each other and he was her greatest achievement in many ways. He loved her selflessly and wanted her to be the best version of herself that she could be."
