HISTORIC ROYAL SPEECHES AND WRITINGS
Queen Victoria maintained a detailed diary, her famous Journal, which is contained in 111 large manuscript volumes.
These volumes constute about a third of the original, as her diaries were edited aer her death by her youngest
daughter Princess Beatrice, at Queen Victoria's request.
On William IV's death, and her accession aged 18 years: Tuesday, 20 June 1837 at Kensington
Palace
I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord
Conyngham were here, and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sing-room (only
in my dressing-gown), and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain) then
acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes past 2
this morning, and consequently that I am Queen. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my hand,
at the same me delivering to me the official announcement of the poor King's demise. The
Archbishop then told me that the Queen was desirous that he should come and tell me the details
of the last moments of my poor, good Uncle; he said that he had directed his mind to religion, and
had died in a perfectly happy, quiet state of mind, and was quite prepared for his death. He added
that the King's sufferings at the last were not very great but that there was a good deal of
uneasiness. Lord Conyngham, whom I charged to express my feelings of condolence and sorrow to
the poor Queen, returned directly to Windsor. I then went to my room and dressed. Since it has
pleased Providence to place me in this staon, I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty towards my
country; I am very young and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am
sure, that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I
have ...
At 9 came Lord Melbourne, whom I saw in my room, and of COURSE quite ALONE as I shall always
do all my Ministers. He kissed my hand and I then acquainted him that it had long been my intenon
to retain him and the rest of the present Ministry at the head of affairs, and that it could not be in
beer hands than his ... He then read to me the Declaraon which I was to read to the Council,
which he wrote himself and which is a very fine one. I then talked with him some lile longer me
aer which he le me ... I like him very much and feel confidence in him. He is a very
straighorward, honest, clever and good man. I then wrote a leer to the Queen ... At about half
past 11 I went downstairs and held a Council in the red saloon. I went in of course quite alone, and
remained seated the whole me. My two Uncles, the Dukes of Cumberland (who now succeeded
William IV as King of Hanover) and Sussex, and Lord Melbourne conducted me. […] I was not at all
nervous and had the sasfacon of hearing that people were sasfied with what I had done and
how I had done it......[…] I Saw Ernest Hohenlohe who brought me a kind and very feeling leer
from the poor Queen. I feel very much for her, and really feel that the poor good King was always
so kind personally to me, that I should be ungrateful were I not to recollect it and feel grieved at
his death. The poor Queen is wonderfully composed now, I hear. Wrote my journal. Took my dinner
upstairs alone. Went downstairs. Saw Stockmar. At about 20 minutes to 9 came Lord Melbourne
and remained ll near 10. I had a very important and very comfortable conversaon with him ...
Went down and said good-night to Mamma etc.
Coronaon: Thursday, 28 June 1838
I was awoke at four o'clock by the guns in the Park and could not get much sleep aerwards due to
the noise of the people, bands, etc. Got up at 7 feeling strong and well. The Park presented a curious
spectacle: crowds of people up to Constuon Hill, soldiers, bands, etc. At half past 9 I went into
the next room dressed in my House of Lords costume. At 10 I got into the State Coach with the
Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Albemarle, and we began our Progress. It was a fine day, and the
crowds exceeded what I have ever seen; the multudes, the millions of my loyal subjects were
assembled to witness the Procession. Their good humour and loyalty was beyond everything, and
I cannot say how proud I feel to be Queen of such a Naon. I was alarmed at mes for fear the
people would be crushed due to the tremendous rush and pressure. I reached the Abbey amid
deafening cheers at a lile aer half past 11. Then followed all the various things, and last, the
Crown being placed on my head. It was a most beauful and impressive moment; all the Peers and
adviser of the
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