Queen Victoria's Men
Opinion
We asked a number of the guest presenters in the 'Queen Victoria's Men' programme for their thoughts on Queen Victoria. This is what they told us…
Julian Fellowes
"Queen Victoria was a very interesting woman, both complex and yet extremely straightforward when it came to an issue she believed in. She knew how to fight her own corner. Much of this was due to her upbringing, when she was a kind of shuttlecock between her uncle, King Leopold, her mother's Controller of the Household, Sir John Conroy, and the politicians, who were waiting to seize her and bind her to their interest, the moment she became queen. Somehow, in the middle of all this, she managed to retain a sense of herself and her destiny. Ultimately, Prince Albert would balance her personality with his gifts which were different from, but complementary to, hers. That said, she was always, if anything, a better judge of people than he was, as well as a better judge of the people than most of her ministers."
"Queen Victoria was a very interesting woman, both complex and yet extremely straightforward when it came to an issue she believed in. She knew how to fight her own corner. Much of this was due to her upbringing, when she was a kind of shuttlecock between her uncle, King Leopold, her mother's Controller of the Household, Sir John Conroy, and the politicians, who were waiting to seize her and bind her to their interest, the moment she became queen. Somehow, in the middle of all this, she managed to retain a sense of herself and her destiny. Ultimately, Prince Albert would balance her personality with his gifts which were different from, but complementary to, hers. That said, she was always, if anything, a better judge of people than he was, as well as a better judge of the people than most of her ministers."
About
Julian Fellowes is an actor, writer, director and producer. As an actor, he is probably best known for his portrayal Lord Kilwillie in the BBC series, 'Monarch of the Glen'. On the big screen he has appeared in 'Shadowlands' with Anthony Hopkins, 'Damage' with Jeremy Irons, 'Place Vendome' with Catherine Deneuve and 'Tomorrow Never Dies' with Pierce Brosnan. He has also written the screenplay for 'The Young Victoria' which is due for release in autumn 2008 and stars Emily Blunt, Paul Bettany, Rupert Friend, Thomas Kretchmann, Miranda Richardson and Jim Broadbent.
Julian Fellowes is an actor, writer, director and producer. As an actor, he is probably best known for his portrayal Lord Kilwillie in the BBC series, 'Monarch of the Glen'. On the big screen he has appeared in 'Shadowlands' with Anthony Hopkins, 'Damage' with Jeremy Irons, 'Place Vendome' with Catherine Deneuve and 'Tomorrow Never Dies' with Pierce Brosnan. He has also written the screenplay for 'The Young Victoria' which is due for release in autumn 2008 and stars Emily Blunt, Paul Bettany, Rupert Friend, Thomas Kretchmann, Miranda Richardson and Jim Broadbent.
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