# Duchess of Kent — Queen Victoria character guide > Duchess of Kent in Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** The new Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Kent, Victoire **First appearance:** 0002-i-antecedents ## Snapshot Victoria's mother, who made her daughter the sole object of eighteen years of ambition, then found the throne slammed shut in her face. ## Who they are The Duchess raised Victoria inside the Kensington System, keeping her close, dependent, and guarded from the court's corruptions. The moment her daughter became Queen, the long-awaited triumph curdled: Victoria's first request was an hour alone, her first order the removal of her bed from her mother's room. Shut out from influence yet surrounded by outward respect, the Duchess embodies the bitter irony of maternal devotion spent for a crown that excludes her. ## Relationships ### [Queen Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/queen_victoria) _family_ Victoria's controlling mother, with whom she had a strained relationship due to the Kensington System and later reconciliation. ### [King Leopold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/king_leopold) _family_ Siblings who collaborated closely to arrange Victoria's marriage and influence her upbringing, with Leopold advising the Duchess. ### [King Leopold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/king_leopold) _family_ Siblings who collaborated closely to arrange Victoria's marriage and influence her upbringing, with Leopold advising the Duchess. ### [King Leopold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/king_leopold) _family_ Siblings who collaborated closely to arrange Victoria's marriage and influence her upbringing, with Leopold advising the Duchess. ### [Queen Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/queen_victoria) _family_ Victoria's controlling mother, with whom she had a strained relationship due to the Kensington System and later reconciliation. ### [Queen Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/queen_victoria) _family_ Victoria's controlling mother, with whom she had a strained relationship due to the Kensington System and later reconciliation. ## In the story ### [Queen Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/queen-victoria) Victoria's mother, whose controlling influence led to early conflicts and eventual separation. ### [I: Antecedents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i-antecedents) Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, sister of Prince Leopold; widow of the Prince of Leiningen, she marries the Duke of Kent and gives birth to Princess Victoria. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv) Introduced as the new Duchess of Kent, daughter of Francis Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, sister of Prince Leopold. Described as short, stout, cheerful, and voluble, with a contented disposition and tenacity developed from her struggles at Amorbach. ### [II: Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii-childhood) Victoria's mother, who oversaw her education with a focus on Christian queenship and duty, and who followed the educational ideals of Dr. Arnold. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i) Mother of Victoria; secures guardianship of her daughter after the Duke's death. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii) Widowed and struggling with debts, she decides to stay in England and raise Victoria as an English princess, aligning with Whig and Radical figures. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii) Victoria's mother, who oversaw her education with a focus on Christian queenship, appointed regent in case of the king's death before Victoria's majority. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv) Target of the King's wrath; she appropriates apartments against his orders and is supported by Sir John Conroy in her disputes. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/v) Wakes Victoria to inform her of the Archbishop's arrival; previously displeased by King William's offer of an independent allowance to Victoria. ### [Lord Melbourne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii-lord-melbourne) The Queen's mother, marginalized after Victoria's accession. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i) Victoria's mother, who is devastated by her loss of influence and separation from her daughter. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/vi) Remains in Buckingham Palace as a discarded figure, powerless and inconsolable, still surrounded by Sir John Conroy and the hostilities from Kensington. ### [Happiness and Turmoil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/viii) Remains hostile and suspicious after the reconciliation attempt, refusing to believe Victoria's letter was genuine. ### [Marriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv-marriage) Reconciled with Victoria through Albert's efforts, and is mentioned as giving a dress to the Princess Royal. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as one who desired the marriage of Albert and Victoria. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv) Reconciled with Victoria through Albert's efforts, and gives a dress to Princess Royal. ### [Last Years of Prince Consort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/vi-last-years-of-prince-consort) The Duchess of Kent dies in March 1861, causing Victoria intense grief and leading to detailed diary entries about her death. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv) The Duchess of Kent falls ill and dies in March 1861, causing Victoria profound grief and leading to extensive diary entries about her death. ### [The Apotheosis of Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv) Cited alongside Lehzen as having taught Victoria her religion. ### [X: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/x-the-end) Remembered with her feathers sweeping down towards Victoria. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/endnotes) Cited in sources about Victoria's early life. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/duchess_of_kent - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters