AS SEEN ON TV: BARONESS LEHZEN

It was Diana Rigg's birthday on Wednesday, so to celebrate, albeit belatedly, we present today's "As Seen On TV" showcase in her honor.....

BARONESS LEHZEN

AS SEEN IN:
"Victoria And Albert"

AS PLAYED BY:
Dame Diana Rigg

From Wikipedia:
Baroness Louise Lehzen (3 October 1784 – 9 September 1870) was the governess, and later adviser and companion to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

In 1827, the Duke of York died, making the Duke of Clarence heir presumptive. George IV died in 1830, and was succeeded by his brother, who became King William IV. William formally recognised Victoria as his heir, and made Lehzen a Baroness of Hanover. At this time, the famous scene took place, in which Lehzen slipped a copy of the genealogy of the House of Hanover into one of the Princess's lesson books. After perusing it for some time, Victoria came to see that her father had been next in line after the King, and Queen Adelaide had no children. This was the first time Victoria came to realise the destiny that had been assumed by many since her birth; that she would be the next British queen. After a pause, Victoria is reported to have said "I will be good."

When Victoria's first child, the Princess Victoria, was born on November 22, 1840, Victoria trusted Lehzen to make the arrangements for the nursery staff. Albert, who was devoted to his first-born, confronted Victoria on the incompetence of the staff selected by the Baroness. There was a quarrel, after which Albert declared that he would leave the affair in her queenly hands, and be it on her head if the child died. After this argument, Victoria gave in to him, and ultimately dismissed Lehzen.

When Lehzen was dismissed from the court in 1842 she returned to her native Germany. She lived on the pension that Victoria sent her, and covered the walls of her house with any portraits of the Queen she could find or cut out of newspapers. She continued to regard Victoria with affectionate emotion and frequently wrote to the Queen, who occasionally responded to her lonely mentor. The Baroness Lehzen died in 1870.

"The More You Know"

BCnU!