Thursday 8 April 2010
9:30 a.m. – 12 Noon
Royal Geographical Society
No. 1 Kensington Gore

London SW7 2AR

(Entrance on Exhibition Road, Nearest Tube: South Kensington or Kensington High Street)

Guest Speaker: Historian KATE WILLIAMS  on “Young Victoria: Royal Teenage Rebel”

By sheer dint of fate, at age 13 she was informed that she would become Queen. Upon the death of her uncle, King William IV, the youthful Princess Victoria was thrust upon the British throne at age 18. But until that day, she had to sleep in the same bed as her mother at Kensington Palace! Is it a wonder that she rebelled in the gilded cage she was raised in? Our perception of Queen Victoria has always been that of the dour and reclusive widow. Now, youthful author and TV historian Kate Williams shatters this image when she speaks about the young Victoria. Was she the first Royal teenage rebel?

Kate’s book “Becoming Queen” (2009) was a reference during the making of the recent feature film “The Young Victoria”, starring Emily Blunt in the title role. It was Book of the Year in the Tatler and The Spectator. It tells the astonishing story of Victoria’s passionate youth and “the most bitter mother-daughter struggle in British history”. It is forgotten that Victoria was energetic, vibrant, and determined to battle for control of her own destiny. The book is an absorbing, dramatic tale of secrets, intrigue and conflict. It is a most original and intimate portrait of Great Britain’s Empress, who went on to rule a fifth of humanity in her time.

Kate Williams is familiar to enthusiasts of TV documentaries, particularly BBC2’s recent Timewatch special on “Young Victoria”. She was a College Scholar at Somerville College, Oxford, then took her MA at Queen Mary, University of London. She received her DPhil. at Oxford. Kate’s first book was a biography on the scandalous romance of Lady Emma Hamilton and Admiral Lord Nelson, entitled “England’s Mistress” (2006).
GENERAL MEETING SCHEDULE

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Coffee and Activity Sign-Ups

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Announcements followed by Guest Speaker

12:15 p.m. Hospitality Lunch

Unfortunately, babies and children are not allowed. . . Please switch off mobiles. . .

Spouses and partners are welcome.