With a new season of The Crown imminent, it seems fitting to look at some very visual royal history. Much of the series takes place at Buckingham Palace. If you have ever visited London, you’ve probably walked or driven by it. And when walking down the Mall, the Victoria Memorial smacks you in the face. Victoria is everywhere in London (as is her husband, Albert), but this is a particularly monumental piece. So, today we are exploring the history of the Victoria memorial, and what it all actually means!
Why Was the Victoria Memorial Created?
One could reasonably ask why this particular memorial was created. Victoria is memorialised in sculpture form outside of Kensington Palace, in a piece created by her daughter, Princess Louise. And she is literally all over London. The Victoria and Albert Museum is one large example. However, her son- Edward VII- decided upon her death in 1901 that there should be a large memorial. He called a joint Parliamentary committee, and they decided to place it on the Mall outside of Buckingham Palace. And there it remains today. (The government refused to pay for it, though. It was finished and dedicated in 1911.
What IS the Victoria Memorial, Exactly?
The memorial is a large marble sculpture (created by Sir Thomas Brock). You can see Gilded Victory at the top, the only gold in the statue. Underneath that you have Constancy, pointing true north, and Courage. And then finally, you have Queen Victoria facing the Mall, Motherhood facing Buckingham Palace, Justice facing Green Park, and Truth facing the south-east. These represent Victoria and her most important virtues. Motherhood signified not only her large family but her empire. And Brock argued that she ruled with Truth and Justice.
Victorian Virtues and the Empire
The British Empire is an incredibly complex entity. Yes, it spread British virtues across the globe, which was their goal. However, it also destroyed countless Indigenous populations and cultures. The lasting ramifications of imperialism are still widely felt, and this is important to remember when viewing things like the Victoria Memorial. The story is never as simple as it seems!
Did you know the history of the Victoria Memorial on the Mall?
Cheers,
The Historian
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