Betwixt The Sheets’ new series Royal Sex: Queen Victoria takes a look at the differing sex lives of four monarchs, beginning with Queen Victoria. With nine children, it can probably be assumed that Queen Victoria was no stranger to the sheets, but what do we actually know about her love (and sex) life? Was she the stiff, reserved monarch history remembers, or did a passionate fire burn beneath her stern facade?  To examine Victoria’s diaries, her passionate relationship and her society’s attitude to sex, Kate Lister is joined for a special episode of Betwixt The Sheets by Royal Historian Kate Williams and journalist Robert Hardman. Kate and Robert are cohosts of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things, a podcast from the Daily Mail. Here we take a look at some of the episode’s key themes: Passion in the palace Queen Victoria’s voluminous diaries, containing over 62 million words, offer an unprecedented glimpse into her innermost thoughts and affections. These writings reveal an outpouring of love for Prince Albert, a devotion forged in their early marriage after both had endured miserable childhoods. In the episode, Kate Lister, Kate Williams and Robert Hardman explore how Victoria’s own words unveil a young woman deeply smitten. From admiring Albert’s “handsome white cashmere britches with nothing on underneath”, to her post-wedding night bliss, where she “didn’t think it would be possible to be so happy” and his delightful help with her stockings, their bond seemingly fulfilled her vision of a companionate marriage. However, royal duty and the swift succession of pregnancies soon introduced unexpected frustrations. Victoria’s first child, Princess Victoria (“Vicky”), arrived just 9 months after the wedding. In the podcast, you’ll hear how upper-class taboos, combined with a lack of understanding about natural conception, contributed to a challenging period for Victoria.  Betwixt The Sheets presenter Kate Lister (centre), with Robert Hardman (left) and Kate Williams (right) from The Daily Mail’s ‘Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things’ podcastImage Credit: History Hit The trials of royal childbirth For Queen Victoria, pregnancy was far more than a personal journey – as a reigning queen, it was a battle for control. While ‘confinement’ physically restricted her, Professor Kate Williams discusses how these periods of pregnancy also saw ministers sideline the Queen, allowing Prince Albert to assert greater influence, igniting a subtle power struggle within their marriage. Victoria was obligated to give birth in front of her ministers, separated only by a flimsy screen. This archaic practice weighed heavily on her, leading her, later in her pregnancies (specifically with Prince Leopold), to become the first monarch to use chloroform for pain relief during childbirth. The episode discusses why this was seen as a controversial choice. Despite these struggles, Victoria’s devotion to Albert remained evident. Her diaries are filled with affectionate descriptions, showcasing a relationship that, while marked by power struggles between monarch and husband, maintained a profound intimacy until his death. Victorian society and sexuality Was wider Victorian society truly as puritanical as often portrayed, or did a more complex reality exist beneath the surface of their buttoned-up exteriors? Kate Lister challenges the myth of Victorian prudishness, arguing that changing social attitudes and taboos, particularly among the rising middle class, shaped their public morality. Yet, this new facade didn’t suppress everything. The 19th century witnessed a surprising rise in pornographic materials, hinting at a thriving, discreet underworld. And while the British Empire exported a vision of “upright” behaviour, sex work simultaneously exploded, fuelled by rapid urbanisation and escalating poverty. ‘The “new woman” and her bicycle – there will be several varieties of her’ (1895) – F. Opper.Image Credit: Frederick Burr Opper, / Library of Congress / Public Domain Bikes, bodies, and royal myths The Victorian era even unveiled unexpected avenues for social change and hidden eroticism. The bicycle, initially adopted by Queen Victoria herself, became a powerful symbol of women’s liberation, challenging restrictive fashion and sparking new (albeit sometimes medically alarmist) discussions around women’s bodies. This unexpectedly transformed the bicycle into a surprisingly “sexy object” of the era. Finally, the podcast tackles persistent myths surrounding the royal couple. Did Prince Albert inspire a famous piercing? Was there truly a ‘sex button’ at Osborne House for royal intimacy? Kate, Robert and Kate delve into these intriguing questions and more.  Don’t miss Royal Sex: Queen Victoria to explore Queen Victoria’s private world and uncover the surprising realities of Victorian society’s attitudes towards sex, along with the intriguing truths behind some of the era’s most enduring myths. Subscribe to Betwixt The Sheets