Queen Bitch

While trying to find a quote for a lesson on imperialism, I came across a few gems by Queen Victoria of England. I never really knew much about her, but these few snippets made me realize what a nasty bulldog of a woman she was.

"The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them."
"Being pregnant is an occupational hazard of being a wife."
"I don't dislike babies, though I think very young ones rather disgusting."
"An ugly baby is a very nasty object - and the prettiest is frightful."

And in letters to her pregnant 17 year old daughter (Vicky) she wrote:

"What you say of the pride of giving life to an immortal soul us very fine, dear, but I own I cannot enter into that; I think much more of our being like a cow or a dog at such moments."

"I never cared for you near as much as you seem to about the baby; I care much more for the younger ones (poor Leopold perhaps excepted)..."

And about her own son, Leopold:

"Leopold...is the ugliest." [8] "I think he is uglier than he ever was." [9] "I hope, dear, he [Vicky's young son] won't be like [Leopold] the ugliest and least pleasing of the whole family." [10] "He [Leopold] walks shockingly--and is dreadfully awkward--holds himself as badly as ever and his manners are despairing, as well as his speech--which is quite dreadful. It is so provoking as he learns so well and reads quite fluently; but his French is more like Chinese than anything else; poor child, he is really very unfortunate."

What a wonderful and charming woman.