This book has an interesting approach, but in the end I was disappointed. I hoped to get some "inside information" on Queen Victorias' daily life. About halfway the book gets as repetitive and boring as Victoria's lifestyle. I thought that the female lives were spun out much more extensively than the male. ( )

Exhaustive nonfiction based on letters and journals from the reign of Queen Victoria. Author focuses on six individuals who served the Queen. Provides an interesting picture of her and of what providing service entailed. Made me extremely grateful never had the opportunity to be in any of these peoples shoes. Exhausting, minimally rewarding, often cold (literally), public service positions in support of a relatively unremarkable woman. Interesting historically but what a relief to finish it. ( )

Serving the Queen was not an easy task, especially for the upper class ladies and gentlemen who were expected to leave families for long periods and to be on call for hours at a time. But they were well fed. Recommended for those interested in lives of the aristocracy, history of the period, etc.

This is collection of letters and diaries pieced together from various members of Victoria's household - the middle and upper class people who filled administrative and personal aide type positions. It's strongest point is that it provides a great look into daily life, both at court and generally of the era.

The picture it gives of Victoria herself is as a generally endearing, but sometimes annoying, great big whiner. The view, at least from these folks, who did know her quite intimately and in many cases, spent decades at court, gives the impression that she isn't at all shrewd or thoughtful beyond the petty details of her household (in contrast to some theories I have seen that her naivete was a tool she used to rule effectively).

My biggest complaint is that it assumes the reader has mastered a great deal of detail about Victoria's reign, which maybe was intentional because I can see how this would appeal to people who already have a lot of information. And I would even say I have a fair bit of Victoriana under my belt. It was still challenging, for example, when the book would refer to the youngest child, but it wasn't clear what year it was or who would have been the youngest at that time. Or the Prime Ministers -- I know the main platforms of the famous ones, like Disraeli and Gladstone, but come on, throw me a bone on Palmerston at least.

Overall, I would recommend to people who are, in fact, THAT interested in Victoria, but it would be extremely tedious as an introduction.

Being in service to Queen Victoria was an exacting undertaking; she was a selfish, demanding and contradictory mistress. It was also incredibly dull. Kate Hubbard tells the development of the Queen’s life and court expertly and entertainingly through the women and men who served for the sixty-plus years of her reign.

At Victoria’s accession the grossness of the previous reigns was expelled and in came rectitude. This change was strengthened with she married the prudish Prince Albert. Although it was seen as an honour to serve suitable candidates recognised the disadvantages. Sarah, Lady Lyttleton accepted the post of superintendent of the royal nursery because of ‘the strange necessity’ of needing the money. However, she was leaving ‘the last years of my life, so domestic and peaceful ... [for life] in a court ... a life too of a good deal of laborious exertion’. Marianne Skerrett (who took over many of Baroness Lehzen’s duties once Prince Albert retired her) found approbation, position and frustration at court. The Queen found her ‘quite a superior person ... of immense literary knowledge and sound understanding, of the greatest discretion and straightforwardness’. Skerrett observed ‘I am not at all mistress of my time and go out little and never see any one here but my sister.’

Other lives include the long-suffering Charlotte, Countess Canning complaining ‘One could never hear anything as those who could tell one were all on their good behaviour and nobody liked to talk politics.’ Then there’s Lady Canning’s friend Mary Bulteel (who married Henry Ponsonby who was the Queen’s discrete private secretary). Mary saw the change of the court brought on with the death of Prince Albert and had interesting relationships with other maids-of-honour.

Dr James Reid was the Queen’s medical attendant who had to cope with the Queen’s illnesses, many of which were the result of the emotions swirling within the royal family and the Queen’s overeating. ‘I am afraid I must not have any more,’ she confessed to Lady Lytton in 1895 but relished afternoon tea with boxes of biscuits, boxes of pralines, chocolate sponges, plain sponges, flat fingers, princess and rice cakes. As she grew wider, she grew blinder too and ever more reliant on her household. Whether they revered her, were exasperated or amused by their mistress the royal household missed her dreadfully when she had gone. Dr Reid confessed after accompanying the Queen’s coffin, ‘My last journey ... is over and I feel rather sad.’