In 1830 the Duke of Coburg, with his two sons, Ernest and Albert, arrived at Kensington Palace on a visit, and thus the Princess met for the first time her future husband.  Her uncle Leopold had long desired to carry out the cherished wish of his mother, the Dowager Duchess of Coburg, that the two cousins should be united in marriage.  During William the Fourth’s lifetime all mention of such a marriage had to be kept secret, as the King much disliked the Coburg family, and had more than once been very rude to the Duchess of Kent.

Victoria wrote to her uncle saying how much she liked Albert in every way, and that he possessed every quality that could be desired to render her perfectly happy.  She was very anxious that her uncle should take her cousin under his special protection.

On May 24, 1837, Victoria attained her majority.  She received numbers of magnificent presents, congratulations from public bodies, and in the evening a State Ball was given at St James’s Palace.

On Tuesday, June 20 of that year, at twelve minutes past two, King William the Fourth died.  The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain set out at once for Kensington to convey the sad news.  They arrived at five in the morning, and were told that the Princess was asleep.  They replied that they were on important business of State to the Queen, and even her sleep must give way to that.  Our illustration depicts the scene which then ensued.

[Illustration:  The Announcement of the Queen’s Accession by the
Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor
H.T.  Wells, R.A. 
Photo W.A.  Mansell & Co.]

Even during the first days of her reign, the Queen’s dignity, calm, and knowledge of State affairs astonished her ministers, and were complete proof of the careful training she had received during her girlhood days.  Greville, Clerk to the Council, wrote:  “She presided with as much ease as if she had been doing nothing else all her life. . . .  The gracefulness of her manner and the good expression of her countenance give her on the whole a very agreeable appearance, and with her youth inspire an excessive interest in all who approach her, and which I can’t help feeling myself.”

In July the Queen and her mother left their home to take up their residence in Buckingham Palace, formerly known as the Queen’s House.  The present palace occupies the site of Buckingham House, which was erected by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, in 1703.  It was bought by George the Third for his wife in 1761, remodelled by George the Fourth, and completed by William the Fourth, who, however, had never lived there.

Four days later the Queen went in State to dissolve Parliament, and soon afterward removed to Windsor Castle, where she was joined for a time by her uncle and his wife.

Prince Albert wrote her a warm letter of congratulation.  “You are now,” he said, “Queen of the mightiest land in Europe.  In your hands lie the happiness of millions.  May Heaven assist and strengthen you with its strength in that high but difficult task!  I hope that your reign may be long, happy, and glorious, and that your efforts may be rewarded by the thankfulness and love of your subjects.”