Queen Victoria's Matchmaking: The Royal Marriages That Shaped Europe

Queen Victoria had a distinct vision of her grandchildren shaping world politics, and she calculated political marriages across Europe to do just that. However, the increased political instability of Russia in the early 20th century led her to eschew matches with the tsars. The downfall of the Romanovs validated this, although too late to spare her favorite grandchild—the ill-fated Alexandra, tsarina of Russia. Many of the matches Victoria made were successful liaisons. Yet times were changing, and those in power struggled to adapt. It was this lack of flexibility, coupled with the grandiose dreams of Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II and infighting with other grandchildren of Victoria that heavily influenced the events and alliances of World War I. Cadbury (Princes at War) weaves a captivating history featuring tidbits from letters and journals of sexual proclivities, unrequited love, delusions of grandeur, and the pushback of several of Victoria's grandchildren to her matches.