Table of Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction 1
Part 1 'A queen is a very happy woman'
1 Windsor 1838 9
2 A Scandal and a Crisis 25
3 'Love rules the court' 40
4 Sarah Lyttelton: Superintendent of the Nursery 53
5 Charlotte Canning: Lady of the Bedchamber 69
6 'Gone afloat' 85
7 Osborne 98
8 In the Highlands 114
9 'The object of Education' 127
10 Departures 142
11 Mary Ponsonby: Maid-of-Honour 154
12 Glimpses of Abroad 167
13 Three Deaths 182
Part 2 'My heart is utterly and completely broken'
14 'Someone to lean on' 199
15 Henry Ponsonby: Private Secretary 216
16 Balmorality 228
17 Eastern Questions and Domestic Affairs 245
18 James Reid: Resident Medical Attendant 257
19 Randall Davidson: Dean of Windsor 275
20 Spring Holidays 292
21 Household Bothers 305
22 The Year of the Munshi 317
23 Accommodating Bipps 332
24 'A last look' 345
Postscript: After Victoria 363
Notes 365
Select Bibliography 391
Index 397