It had to be so: her domestic position, the pressure of her public work, her indomitable sense of duty, made anything else impossible.

Her egotism proclaimed its rights.

Her age increased still further the surrounding deference; and her force of character, emerging at length in all its plenitude, imposed absolutely upon its environment by the conscious effort of an imperious will.
Little by little it was noticed that the outward vestiges of Albert's posthumous domination grew less complete.

At Court the stringency of mourning was relaxed.

As the Queen drove through the Park in her open carriage with her Highlanders behind her, nursery-maids canvassed eagerly the growing patch of violet velvet in the bonnet with its jet appurtenances on the small bowing head.
It was in her family that Victoria's ascendancy reached its highest point.