Bedchamber crisis facts for kids

Queen Victoria around 1839, when she was about 20 years old.

The Bedchamber Crisis was a big political event that happened in Britain in 1839. It involved the young Queen Victoria and two important politicians, Lord Melbourne and Robert Peel. The crisis was all about who would be in charge of the government and who the Queen's personal helpers, called Ladies-in-waiting, should be. It showed how much power the Queen had, even at a young age.

What Was the Bedchamber Crisis?

The Bedchamber Crisis was a disagreement between Queen Victoria and Sir Robert Peel. It happened when the government was changing. The Queen refused to replace some of her Ladies-in-waiting. This made it hard for a new government to be formed.

A Change in Government

In 1839, the Whig Party, led by Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, was losing support. They had been in power for a while. After losing an important vote in Parliament, Lord Melbourne decided to step down. This meant a new Prime Minister was needed.

Queen Victoria's Friends

At this time, Queen Victoria was only 20 years old. She had a very close relationship with Lord Melbourne. He was like a father figure to her. She also trusted his advice on many things. This included choosing her personal staff. Most of her Ladies-in-waiting were wives or relatives of leading Whig politicians. These ladies were her friends and companions. They spent a lot of time with the Queen.

A New Prime Minister

After Lord Melbourne resigned, Robert Peel was asked to form a new government. Peel was the leader of the Tories. This party was different from the Whigs. Peel knew that the Queen's Ladies-in-waiting were mostly connected to the Whigs. He felt this could cause problems. He wanted the Queen's household to be more neutral.

The Queen's Refusal

Peel asked Queen Victoria to replace some of her Ladies-in-waiting. He wanted her to choose some women connected to the Tory party. This would show that the Queen supported the new government. However, Victoria saw her ladies as close friends. She did not want to send them away. She also did not have much trust in Robert Peel. So, she refused his request.

The Outcome of the Crisis

Because Queen Victoria refused, Robert Peel felt he could not form a strong government. He believed he needed the Queen's full support. Without it, he refused to become Prime Minister. Lord Ashley was also offered the job but he refused too. As a result, Lord Melbourne and the Whigs stayed in power. This meant the government did not change after all.

Public Opinion

Queen Victoria's refusal to change her Ladies-in-waiting caused some criticism. Many people felt she should have been more flexible. They thought she should have supported the new Prime Minister. However, others admired her loyalty to her friends. The Bedchamber Crisis showed how much influence the young Queen had in British politics.

Images for kids

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  A funny drawing about the crisis by John Doyle, from December 1840.