Queen Victoria assassinated, 1840

In 1840, Queen Victoria and Prince Alpert were on their way to visit the Queen Mother, when deranged 18-year-old Edward Oxford fired at their carriage, missing them both. Suppose a bullet had struck Victoria, killing her. It should also be noted that the Queen was pregnant with her first child, Victoria, as well.

What do you think the results of the assassination would be?

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to put "WI:" before the text.
 
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First off the throne should pass to Ernest Augustus of Hanover, reuniting the thrones of the United Kingdom and Hanover. Ernest Augustus was incredibly unpopular in the United Kingdom, and there had been rumours that he was trying to get Victoria passed over in the succession, and even that he was plotting to murder her so that he could take the throne himself - some sort of Hanoverian Richard III, clearly.

He was also unpopular in Hanover, had dissolved the Hanoverian parliament, and exiled opponents, which had caused a British MP to suggest that Ernest Augustus be removed from the British line of succession, and fostered more distaste for Ernest ever becoming king.

Given all this, and that parliament has a decent history of meddling with the succession, it is possible that they would actually offer the throne to Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. That said, Adolphus had been loyal to his older brother and opposed efforts to be made King of Hanover in place of Ernest Augustus. So if Ernest Augustus does become king, Britain could perhaps experience an upsurge in republican sentiment.
 
First off the throne should pass to Ernest Augustus of Hanover, reuniting the thrones of the United Kingdom and Hanover. Ernest Augustus was incredibly unpopular in the United Kingdom, and there had been rumours that he was trying to get Victoria passed over in the succession, and even that he was plotting to murder her so that he could take the throne himself - some sort of Hanoverian Richard III, clearly.

He was also unpopular in Hanover, had dissolved the Hanoverian parliament, and exiled opponents, which had caused a British MP to suggest that Ernest Augustus be removed from the British line of succession, and fostered more distaste for Ernest ever becoming king.

Given all this, and that parliament has a decent history of meddling with the succession, it is possible that they would actually offer the throne to Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. That said, Adolphus had been loyal to his older brother and opposed efforts to be made King of Hanover in place of Ernest Augustus. So if Ernest Augustus does become king, Britain could perhaps experience an upsurge in republican sentiment.

what about albert though?
couldnt he have done a william of oragne and taken the throne?...they were close relations, he was liked by the british people more or less, he probaly wouldve beign supported by a few german states as well as belgium and probaly the scandinvias as well, and possibly parliment, depending on the govermnet
 
what about albert though?
couldnt he have done a william of oragne and taken the throne?...they were close relations, he was liked by the british people more or less, he probaly wouldve beign supported by a few german states as well as belgium and probaly the scandinvias as well, and possibly parliment, depending on the govermnet

I would say no, in 1840 he had only been married to Victoria five months, and was actually unpopular with parliament (who refused to make him a peer) and the wider public.

EDIT: While the assassination attempt improved his popularity, ITTL the attempt is successful - I think it is too soon to have him become king over better placed members of the House of Hanover.
 
what about albert though?
couldnt he have done a william of oragne and taken the throne?...they were close relations, he was liked by the british people more or less, he probaly wouldve beign supported by a few german states as well as belgium and probaly the scandinvias as well, and possibly parliment, depending on the govermnet

Maybe he 1840 he had some good will, but no, he certainly couldn't. Cumberland once asked him to take a walk in the gardens with him and he sheeped away because they would be jeered at. Cumberland told him he had been much more hated in his time and nothing had happened to him.

Cumberland was unpopular, quite conservative, and there is a black legend around him. But he wasn't hated in Hannover. He declared the 1833 constitution void, but upheld it's laws and restored the 1819 one (not that it was nothing but a scrap of paper). Despite this incident, he was actually rather liked in Hannover by the time in death. In Britain he had a continual black legend hanging over him,
 
But he wasn't hated in Hannover. He declared the 1833 constitution void, but upheld it's laws and restored the 1819 one (not that it was nothing but a scrap of paper). Despite this incident, he was actually rather liked in Hannover by the time in death. In Britain he had a continual black legend hanging over him,

By the time of his death, yes, by 1840, no. By 1840 Hanover was still without a parliament or a constitution. I think this would count against him in Britain.
 
what about albert though?
couldnt he have done a william of oragne and taken the throne?...they were close relations, he was liked by the british people more or less, he probaly wouldve beign supported by a few german states as well as belgium and probaly the scandinvias as well, and possibly parliment, depending on the govermnet

No, because "William & Mary" were crowned as co-monarchs, so on the death of one, the other still stayed in power.

Albert is very specifically NOT 'king' of any sort, and couldn't become one.

Britain might become a Republic if Ernst Augustus takes the throne, 'tho. Sigh.
 

Thande

Donor
So if Ernest Augustus does become king, Britain could perhaps experience an upsurge in republican sentiment.

To an extent, although I think given the time period it wouldn't be as open as that. I think the establishment would want to keep the monarchy but perhaps pull another 1689, arbitrarily appoint anyone they want as monarch and change the constitution so that the succession has to be confirmed by Parliament. Crowned republic perhaps, but you can't really see the establishment of the 1840s going without the crown altogether, even if all Victoria's immediate relatives were disliked.

Of course, I suppose if they went with Ernest Augustus to start with, republicanism could become more mainstream just out of the sense of despair that there was no alternative.
 
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