QUEEN Victoria’s grief for her husband Prince Albert is one of the key differences between her reign and that of her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II, according to one historian.

As the Queen prepares to overtake Victoria’s record as Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Judith Rowbotham, visiting research fellow at Plymouth University, said the present Queen, in contrast, has had the companionship of the Duke of Edinburgh throughout her time on the throne.

“When Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee she was already a widow and had been for some time,’’ the social historian said.

“This is one of the key differences between Elizabeth and Victoria and I think it’s had a major effect on her happiness and therefore her ability to to do her job.

“Throughout her reign, Elizabeth has had the Duke of Edinburgh at her side. Victoria’s beloved Albert wasn’t there from the 1860s, going on for 40 years – pretty well half of her reign.

“Victoria operated as a monarch with only the support of a son she considered unsatisfactory and the memories she had.’’

She added: “The Queen has never had to do substantial royal duties without her husband at her side."

Daily Echo:

Queen Victoria

Shortly after the Royal Family returned from South Africa in 1947, the Princess’s engagement to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten was announced.

The couple, who had known each other for many years, were married in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947.

The event was fairly simple, as Britain was still recovering from the war, and Princess Elizabeth had to collect clothing coupons for her dress, like any other young bride.

They spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, Hampshire, the home of Lord Mountbatten, and at Birkhall, Balmoral.

Lieutenant Mountbatten, now His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

The Queen has paid public tribute to her husband on several occasions, recalling his loyal support and service to the country.

The historian said: “The Duke might have been ill and not always there but as soon as he was able he has rushed back. She is able to talk to him and that’s very different from just having memories.’’

Both Queens celebrated their Golden and Diamond Jubilees, but Victoria was in ill health by the time she reached her 60th anniversary in 1897.

Suffering from rheumatism, she was so frail that a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral had to be held outside with Victoria confined to her carriage because she could not manage the steps.

The Queen, in comparison, is in good health, although she suffers from back pain, and she marked her Diamond Jubilee seemingly with ease.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers highlighted the Queen’s robust nature as she approaches her 90th birthday.

“What is so wonderful is that the Queen is older than Queen Victoria and she’s still firing on all cylinders,” Mr Vickers said. Victoria was 81 when she died.

However, Dr Rowbotham suggested that, as the years progress, the similarities between Victoria, who largely withdrew from public life, and the Queen will increase.

“We’re actually going to enter a phase where the similarities between the two become much more acute. We’re used to seeing the Queen actually doing things.

"We’re used to seeing her turn up to open things. Victoria received state visitors and kept royal diplomacy going but in a way which was much more static,’’ she said.

Dr Rowbotham added that the Queen remains an essential part of British identity thanks to her long reign.

“We’re in a period when she has been on the throne so long, it’s difficult to conceive of a country without her. It’s part of the framework of what you think of when you think of Britishness.’’