History in Images: Victoria Episode 5
Did Victoria and Albert really visit Scotland? Get the scoop on the true history behind Victoria Season 2 Episode 5, and see images from the era of Her Majesty’s reign.
- 1.
Attempted Assassination
Episode 5 started with a bang–as another would-be assassin narrowly failed to injure Victoria.
It’s true that the second attempt on the Queen’s life was during the spring of 1842, by a man named John Francis. Just as in Episode 5, after the attempt, the Queen was given a chainmail parasol.
- 2.
A Royal Visit to Scotland
Just like in Episode 5, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert did indeed visit Scotland. The couple first toured the country in 1842.
On a later trip, they stayed in Blair Castle–where Episode 5 was filmed!
- 3.
A Scottish Poet
In Episode 5, Victoria tried to escape from a dreary Scottish poet who insisted on performing.
William Beattie, a Scottish poet and physician, was a prolific writer until his death in 1875.
Interestingly, he was friends with Lady Anne Byron, Lord Byron’s wife and Ada Lovelace’s mother!
- 4.
The Duke of Atholl
Used under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Unported License In Episode 5, the royal couple was greeted and hosted by the Duke of Atholl.
The 6th Duke of Atholl was indeed the Queen’s host in Scotland during her visit in 1844. The Queen stayed in his home, Blair Castle, and she was so impressed by the Duke’s guard, the Atholl Highlanders, that she gave the men the official status of British regiment soldiers.
