Queen Victoria: The Woman Beyond the Crown

Behind the image of a stern monarch, Queen Victoria lived a deeply emotional life marked by personal tragedies, private struggles with grief and the quiet use of laudanum. This episode explores Victoria’s intense relationships, from her devotion to Prince Albert to her rumoured bond with John Brown - alongside the assassination attempts and hidden vulnerabilities that shaped the woman beneath the crown. Cast List: Tracy Borman: Chief Curator, Historic Royal Palaces  Dr. Rosemary Leonard: General Practitioner & Journalist  Tony McMahon: Author & Journalist  Hallie Rubenhold: Author, ‘The Scandalous Lady W’ Dominic Selwood: Author & Journalist  Rebecca Rideal: Author, ‘Plague, War & Hellfire’ Dai Davies: Retired Chief Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Dr. Matt Green: Historian  Eric Meyers: Narrator  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices