Chapter 402 The Queen Is Going on a Trip

Downing Street, London, England.

Robert Peel, as the leader of the Royalist Party, was embarrassed by the Queen's disfavor for a long time.

In order to regain the Queen's attention, Robert Peel publicly declared that he would listen to Queen Victoria's opinions when it came to personnel appointments in the Queen's palace and would not easily change the people around the Queen.

Robert Peel was telling the truth. As the Prime Minister, he theoretically had this power, but this was very harsh, and for ordinary people, it seemed that the Prime Minister controlled the Queen.

Especially the Chartists, whose demands were not met and who were suppressed. At first, they got the Queen's promise, and the group disbanded.

But the Whig government at the time did not admit it, and the Prime Minister, Viscount Melbourne, even claimed that "even if the North Sea was filled up, the workers' wages could not be raised."

But as the Whig Party stepped down, the pressure came to Robert Peel. This ill-fated politician had to endure a lot of suffering that he should not have suffered.

At this time, the domestic economic crisis in Britain, coupled with the workers' movement and riots in overseas colonies. There seems to be a fungal disease in agriculture, and the grain harvest may be poor this year.

Of course, although the poor harvest is a bad thing for Britain, it is a good thing for him personally, after all, this way he can better promote his theory (free trade).

Internationally, Britain's relations with almost all the powers at this time are not good. Previously, the Whigs suppressed France too much, even leading to the La Plata (Argentina) crisis.

Wanted to isolate the Russians, but accidentally pushed Russia to the side of Austria. Conflicts with the United States continued, especially in the Oregon region, where the number of Americans has completely overwhelmed the number of British colonists.

Although the Oregon region is still managed by the British, it is only a matter of time before it is lost if no action is taken.

The issue of standing in the Luxembourg crisis offended the entire German Confederation, and even the Queen's family Hanover had to draw a clear line with Britain.

This was a huge diplomatic disaster in Robert Peel's eyes.

In order to prevent Austria from dominating in Central Europe, especially the possible annexation of Italy, Britain set up many obstacles, but it seemed to have gained nothing except the jealousy of Austria.

Austria still has unparalleled influence in Italy, and countries like Serbia and the Ottoman Empire can hardly pose a threat to it.

In addition, a grand duke of the Habsburg family seems to have accepted the invitation of the Jacobite Party, which can be regarded as a countermeasure of Austria to Britain's step-by-step pressure.

However, Robert Peel did not take this matter to heart at this time, because Britain has almost no allies in the world now, and war may break out at any time. Even the proud industry has been frustrated frequently.

Robert Peel felt that his burden seemed to be a thousand pounds heavy. Just when he was thinking hard about how to crack it, the queen seemed to fall in love with sea voyages.

This was originally an insignificant matter, but the destination chosen by the queen was Paris.

This is very interesting. Although the queen herself may just treat it as a private trip (visiting relatives), the political value behind it is immeasurable.

Robert Peel intends to use this to ease relations with France, because if he wants to dominate the world, France is both an opponent and the best ally.

After all, the two countries have the same enemy-the Holy Alliance, and the three-nation alliance of Russia, Prussia and Austria is too powerful. The so-called continental balance of power policy does not want a peaceful and prosperous Europe.

Rather, it is a chaotic Europe that is powerless to confront Britain and full of business opportunities.

The French naturally became Britain's natural allies, because the Vienna system itself is a shackle that restricts France. The beast cannot be willing to be trapped in a cage for a lifetime, and the same is true for France.

Robert Peel wanted to break it with this, and the Queen's trip is undoubtedly of great value.

This will be the first time that Queen Victoria has set foot on foreign territory (Hanover used to be a united country of Britain), and she will also be the first British monarch to visit France since Henry VIII (the king of gluttony, whose waist circumference is said to have reached 155cm) in 1520.

Of course, this is not a show of goodwill, but just another possibility for the French, a signal of cooperation. It is also a warning to Russia, Prussia, and Austria that Britain is not without allies.

However, this trip was not smooth, because Queen Victoria had been assassinated before. And more than once.

At the same time, their queen was a bit reckless.

Sunday, May 29, 1842.

Queen Victoria was riding in a carriage passing through Green Park. When she was flirting with Prince Albert, she accidentally opened the window and saw a man pointing a pistol at her not far away.

When the man saw Queen Victoria looking in his direction, he immediately blended into the crowd and ran away. Afterwards, the Queen did not make a fuss, but decided to "pass by" Green Park again that afternoon.

Although the ministers accompanying her tried their best to stop her, Queen Victoria still insisted on her own way. She said, "I would rather take a risk than live in danger all the time."

In the end, the Queen passed through Green Park for the second time. This time, the well-prepared British Royal Guards did not let the assassin escape.

However, the Queen's behavior frightened the British Parliament and ministers. What if Victoria was assassinated in France or even died in France?

What should the British government do?

The Queen won a lot of public support for her people-friendly attitude and hard-working attitude when she first ascended the throne, but then she suddenly became reclusive and no longer cared about politics (married Albert).

This made some conspiracy theorists think that Parliament kidnapped the Queen. After all, Victoria had promised to give workers a ten-hour workday and a series of social welfare and reforms, but now none of them have been completed.

If the Queen was assassinated in France, the British government would be discredited.

So security work will be the top priority of this trip, but on French territory, security work cannot be entirely the responsibility of the UK, which involves many problems.

Of course, Robert Peel did not think that the French would assassinate Victoria. After all, although the two countries had disputes, they were far from a life-and-death struggle.

And assassinating a head of state is far less profitable than kidnapping as a hostage.

Of course, in order to prevent such extreme things from happening, Britain has long formulated the Regency Act in history, that is, when the Queen needs to leave the UK, a regent or multiple judges need to be appointed to perform the duties of the monarch on behalf of the monarch.

Since then, the Royal Court has been acting as Queen Victoria's "regent", so Victoria has become one of the most frequently visited rulers in British history.

The Queen and her husband are scheduled to visit France in six months, and Robert Peel must solve all possible problems.

This news immediately shocked the whole of Europe, and countless forces were ready to move. Where will the undercurrent world go?