How would a longer-living Prince Edward, Duke of Kent affected Queen Victoria as future monarch?

How would a longer-lived Prince Edward (let's say living until just about a year before Victoria becomes queen) affect Victoria's abilities and time as the Queen of Britain?

First off, it can be pointed out that Edward might well have a son who would knock Victoria out of the succession so let's assume that he has no more (legitimate) children after her or at least no more legitimate sons.

For the first part of her life, I think it would generally be assumed by Edward and others that he would have more children (and a son) and would not see Victoria as his heir - but if he has no other children or only more daughters, by around 1830, he might begin to seriously consider that there is a strong possibility that Victoria will one day be queen. From there, how would his presence influence the future queen?

If we're going for the Edward only has more daughters, it would also be interesting to see how a Victoria with sisters might grow up differently as well.

One thing I can't see happening in this TL is the Kennsington system.
 
One thing I can't see happening in this TL is the Kennsington system.

No, I can't see that happening either, or even if it did, a Victoria with sisters close to her in age won't grow up as isolated. But no, I suspect a surviving Duke of Kent would know only too well that his daughters need to grow up knowing their cousins and appearing at Court.

I also wonder whether having sisters would stop Victoria being so possessive of Albert later in life? If she's used to having to share people's affection with her sisters - even if she is the eldest - I wonder whether she would resent her children less for taking Albert's attention? Though I still don't see her being good with babies...
 
First off, Victoria would grow up at Court, playing with her Hanoverian cousins (the Fitzwilliams, the Cumberland Prince and the Cambridge children when they're not over in Hanover), so no social isolation like OTL. Second, no stunted education like the Kensington system, so we have a Queen well-aware of her prerogatives and less dependent on her PM. Third, unless Kent changes parties, Victoria is likely to remain a fervent Whig in her early years.

@FalconHonour, your assuming that Victoria would marry Albert here. That's a major assumption that's unlikely to happen in my books. In fact, if Edward's alive, then there's a high possibility that Victoria will be married before coming to the throne.
 
First off, Victoria would grow up at Court, playing with her Hanoverian cousins (the Fitzwilliams, the Cumberland Prince and the Cambridge children when they're not over in Hanover), so no social isolation like OTL. Second, no stunted education like the Kensington system, so we have a Queen well-aware of her prerogatives and less dependent on her PM. Third, unless Kent changes parties, Victoria is likely to remain a fervent Whig in her early years.

@FalconHonour, your assuming that Victoria would marry Albert here. That's a major assumption that's unlikely to happen in my books. In fact, if Edward's alive, then there's a high possibility that Victoria will be married before coming to the throne.

You're quite right, I was. Bad assumption. But I still wonder whether, whomever Victoria married, she'd be less possessive of them here than she was of Albert OTL.
 
You're quite right, I was. Bad assumption. But I still wonder whether, whomever Victoria married, she'd be less possessive of them here than she was of Albert OTL.

Hard to say if that was a personality kink or a product of her upbringing. Plus her grandfather George III was pretty possessive of Charlotte, so it could be a family trait. It would also depend on whether or not she was in "love" with her spouse or not.
 
First off, Victoria would grow up at Court, playing with her Hanoverian cousins (the Fitzwilliams, the Cumberland Prince and the Cambridge children when they're not over in Hanover), so no social isolation like OTL. Second, no stunted education like the Kensington system, so we have a Queen well-aware of her prerogatives and less dependent on her PM. Third, unless Kent changes parties, Victoria is likely to remain a fervent Whig in her early years.

@FalconHonour, your assuming that Victoria would marry Albert here. That's a major assumption that's unlikely to happen in my books. In fact, if Edward's alive, then there's a high possibility that Victoria will be married before coming to the throne.
First off, Victoria would grow up at Court, playing with her Hanoverian cousins (the Fitzwilliams, the Cumberland Prince and the Cambridge children when they're not over in Hanover), so no social isolation like OTL. Second, no stunted education like the Kensington system, so we have a Queen well-aware of her prerogatives and less dependent on her PM. Third, unless Kent changes parties, Victoria is likely to remain a fervent Whig in her early years.

@FalconHonour, your assuming that Victoria would marry Albert here. That's a major assumption that's unlikely to happen in my books. In fact, if Edward's alive, then there's a high possibility that Victoria will be married before coming to the throne.
I think who a match with Albert will still be likely in any scenario in which Victoria became Queen of England as Leopold (who was married firstly to another heiress of Britain) arranged also the match between his widowed sister and his uncle-in-law and likely had still a certain level of influence in England so he will be in the position to push a match between Victoria and Albert in any scenario
 
Top