Queen — and Submissive Wife
May 23, 2023
The 1937 movie Victoria the Great is a moving portrayal of the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In this portrayal of the couple, the most powerful woman in the world manages to retain her husband’s love and express her tender submission to him.
It is not important if all the details of this dramatic account are accurate. The movie, which is based on Laurence Housman’s 1935 play Victoria Regina, works as an inspirational love story and is clearly accurate enough. Few women in history have so publicly expressed devotion to their husbands as Victoria and it is doubtful anyone loved her man more.
In one scene, Victoria, played by the outstanding Anna Neagle, is outraged at what appears to be Albert’s flirtation with other women at court. The truth is, he has deliberately tried to anger her because she has refused to allow him to help with matters of state. His point is that if she won’t allow him to be more than a loafer, he will express his masculinity in other ways.
Anton Walbrook is excellent as the German prince, who goes to his chambers in a huff after Victoria displays her anger at him in front of others. Victoria follows.
She bangs on his locked door.
“Who is it?” Albert asks.
“It is the queen,” she says proudly.
He refuses to let her in.
“Who is it?” he calls out when she bangs on the door again.
“It is Victoria,” she says imperiously.
There is no answer.
She is desperate and almost gives up. Finally, she gently knocks.
“Who is it?” he asks.
“It is your wife,” she says, softly.
He unlocks the door.
