Influencing the royals: Florence Nightingale and the Royal Family
- Victoria Regina
- 1 day ago
- 12 min read
Recognised as one of the greatest icons of the nineteenth century, Florence Nightingale was a leading voice in establishing modern nursing. Through her selfless work, Miss Nightingale found herself acquainted with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were great admirers of her efforts to improve the conditions of injured and sick men during the Crimean War. However, Nightingale was strong willed and often used her persuasive nature to influence the royals into enforcing change.
Born just twelve days before Queen Victoria’s first birthday, Florence Nightingale was born into a privileged family. Like all well-to-do children of the time, Florence and her older sister, Frances Parthenope Nightingale, received an extensive home education under the direction of their father. While they were taught a variety of subjects, Florence naturally excelled in mathematics and science. However, her fascination with nursing mostly stemmed from her family friend, Sir James Clark, who also happened to be Queen Victoria’s personal physician. Having trained at the Institution of Protestant Deaconesses in Kaiserswerth, Germany, in spring 1848 Florence adopted the position of unpaid Superintendent to the Establishment for Gentlewomen during illness, which was located on London's Harley Street and was chaired by Lady Charlotte Canning, who was also lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria.
Like most young women of the time, Florence was a great admirer of the similarly aged Queen, who ascended the British throne in June 1837 at the age of just eighteen. Two years later, on 23rd May, Florence was invited to attend a Drawing-Room at St James’s Palace to celebrate Victoria’s 20th birthday. While the two young women failed to meet, Florence managed to get a glimpse of the monarch, who she described as looking “flushed and tired”. Florence saw the young Queen again in 1840, this time with her new husband, Prince Albert. In a letter to her sister Florence wrote that she had “a capital view”, however she didn’t appear kind about what she saw, describing the Queen as “a careworn, flabby, countenance, poor soul”. This wasn’t the first time Florence had spread potentially hurtful gossip about Victoria and it certainly wouldn’t be the last!
In September 1852, Florence was invited to stay at Sir James’s home, Birkhall, in Aberdeenshire, while her sister recovered there from an illness. During her stay, Miss Nightingale once again got a glimpse of the Queen when Sir James was called to attend Princess Victoria of Hohenlohe, who had been thrown from a horse. Later on in her visit, Florence found herself unexpectedly lunching with the Queen’s two eldest sons, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Prince Alfred.
Over the next couple of years Florence continued to pursue her interest in nursing; and, in August 1854, dedicated much of her time to caring for cholera patients at the Middlesex Hospital during the major outbreak in Soho. The following month, British and French troops arrived on the frontline of the Crimean War. Before long, accounts of the conflict began appearing in tabloids. The Times’ War Correspondent, William Howard Russel, had been particularly vocal in highlighting the lack of medical care and supplies. On 18th October the horrified Queen wrote in her journal that the “sickness amongst the troops, alas! very great, 6,000 in the Hospital. Reinforcements must be hurried out.”
Like many, the Secretary of War, Sydney Herbert, agreed with the Queen and contacted Florence Nightingale, whom he had met during a visit to Rome, asking her to lead a party of nurses to work at hospitals on the frontline in Scutari and Varna. Passionate about medical reform, Florence agreed to his request and, with the help of Elizabeth Herbert and Lady Canning, a unit of 38 nurses had been gathered within just five days. The women arrived at Scutari less than a month later on 4th November.
By around December 1854, Queen Victoria had began reading Miss Nightingale’s “touching accounts” of the scenes she was witnessing overseas. On 8th December, the 35-year-old monarch wrote that she envied Florence for “being able to do so much good & look after the noble brave heroes”, while she, as Queen, could only help from a distance. Wanting to recognise the work of both the nurses and the soldiers, Victoria gave a note to her children’s governesses, Miss Hildyard, which read:
“Let Mrs Herbert also know that I wish Miss Nightingale and the ladies would tell these poor wounded and sick men that no-one takes a warmer interest or feels more for their sufferings or admires their courage and heroism more than their Queen. Day and night she thinks of her beloved troops. Do does the Prince. Beg Mrs Herbert to communicate these my words to those ladies, as I know that our sympathy is valued by these fellows”.
Following the Queen’s request, the message was certainly passed on. In fact, Florence Nightingale had been so pleased with the royal note of support that she insisted on it being read out by the Army Chaplains and posted copies around the hospital wards. However, she didn’t stop there and the letter eventually ended up in the hands of the British Press, who had all haste in publishing it. In her journal dated 6th January, Queen Victoria writes that she and Albert had initially been “startled” by the letter’s appearance in the paper but added that “it has called forth such very kind observations in the different papers, that I feel it may be the means of my real sentiments getting known by the Army. Therefore I can no longer regret it.”
In response to the publication, Florence nightingale wrote that “the men were touched to the heart by the Queen’s message, saying that it was a very feeling letter, & with tears, that she was thinking of them, — that each man ought to have a copy, which they would keep to their dying day.”
The Queen had found herself “gratified” and “amply rewarded” by the positive impact her message. Wanting to do more for her “dreadfully wounded” troops, Victoria asked Florence if there was anything that she could do to help. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Florence sent an immediate response in which she highlighted her concerns over sick soldiers having their pay reduced by 9d per day, while wounded men only lost 4 1/2d. Nightingale also asked that the Sultan give military cemeteries to the British. Queen Victoria was quick to agree to the requests, which were both resolved by February 1855.
On top of arranging changes, Queen Victoria also sent personally funded gifts for the wounded soldiers. This included: waterbeds to prevent bed sores, games, 2,000 books and £200, which Florence was to spend on whatever she felt would be most useful for the men’s enrichment.
On Tuesday 20th February 1855, Queen Victoria welcomed 32 “wounded men of the Grenadier Guards” into the Marble Hall at Buckingham Palace. In her journal she described the scene as “a touching sight,” adding that “one could not see a finer set of men, tall, noble-looking, whom it made one’s heart bleed, to see so mutilated”. The Queens daughters and her ladies waited by the door while Victoria, Prince Albert and their two eldest sons walked around the room to greet each of the men, who wore the same grey coats that they had nobly fought in. The injuries Victoria described the men as having are horrific making it no surprise that she “was so agitated,” by the disfigurement and heroism that stood before her that the speech she planned on delivering became “stuck in my throat”. Three days later, Victoria welcomed another 38 wounded soldiers into her home (34 from the Scotch Fusilier Guards and 4 Grenadiers), who had been “wounded in the same way, as those we saw before”.
“Anxious to inspect the arrangements made for the poor suffering men,” Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their two eldest sons first visited Brompton Hospital and Fort Pitt Military Hospital in, Chatham and Fort Monkton in Gosport on 3rd March 1855. The Queen later described the experience of walking down the wards and meeting the wounded men as “intensely interesting, touching, & gratifying,” adding, “I wish I could pay constant visits of this kind to the Hospitals & tend & cheer these noble, brave, patient men!” Over the coming months, Queen Victoria would pay several unofficial visits to wounded soldiers, accompanied by her daughters, Victoria, Alice and occasionally Helena. It was these early experiences and the stories of Nightingale’s work that helped spark a lifelong passion for nursing amongst all three of the sisters. Queen Victoria, too, was inspired by she witnessed and began working with Nightingale to improve hospital conditions for soldiers, both in England and on the frontline.
I cannot say how interested I was, & how well I understand the ladies devoting themselves to the nursing of these brave fellows.”
– Queen Victoria, 3rd March 1855
In February 1856, Victoria decided to recognise Nightingale’s devotion to the troops by commissioning Crown Jeweller, Garrard, to create a unique brooch. Having been designed by Prince Albert, the gold and enamel brooch contained the initials “VR” (Victoria Regina) at the centre of the St George’s Cross, which was surrounded by the words “Blessed Are The Merciful”, with “Crimea” written at the base. The reverse of the brooch was also engraved with the message “To Miss Florence Nightingale, as a mark of esteem, and gratitude for her devotion towards the Queen’s brave soldiers from Victoria R. 1855”. Along with the brooch, Florence also received an accompanying note from the Queen, requesting that the two meet upon Florence’s return to England.
It’s safe to say that Florence was overjoyed by the gift and in true Nightingale fashion, used her “thank you” letter as an opportunity to highlight further issues that the military has been ignoring, such as drunkenness and soldiers struggling to send money home to their families on account of fraud. Victoria forwarded the concerns to her cabinet, which agreed that something needed to be done. While Miss Nightingale appeared to take advantage of the Queen's kindness, her efforts paid off and soon four offices were built near stationed troops, enabling them to safely send money and, in turn, reducing alcohol consumption.
While the Crimean War officially ended on 30th March 1856, Florence Nightingale’s work continued until the final patient was discharged in 16th July. Despite becoming a national hero, Florence was determined not to pursue any kind of public persona and refused to release a statement or attend public functions. Instead, the Victorian hero grew into a somewhat reclusive lifestyle, living at the Burlington hotel in Mayfair and going by a false name to prevent being recognised.
While she had withdrawn from public life, Florence was still prepared to meet the Queen and – on 18th September 1856 – arrived at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire with her father. Just two days later, the Nightingale’s travelled to Balmoral Castle, where, at 3pm, Sir James formally introduced to them to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The Queen wrote in her journal that “it is impossible to say how much pleased we were with her. I had expected a rather cold, stiff, reserved person, instead of which, she is gentle, pleasing & engaging, most ladylike, & so clever, clear & comprehensive in her views of everything. Her mind is solely & entirely taken up with the one object, to which she has sacrificed her health, & devoted herself like a saint.”
Together, the group “talked principally of the want of system & organisation” in military hospitals, something “which had existed, & been the cause of so much suffering & misery”. Florence used the meeting as an opportunity to properly thank the Queen for her “support & sympathy saying, that to a man, the soldiers had all deeply felt & appreciated my sympathy & interest.”
The following evening, Florence attended a ball at the Royal Residence. The Queen wrote that Miss Nightingale, who was “tall, & slight, with fine dark eyes,” had arrived wearing black, with a “simple little cap, tied under her chin”. Florence had been forced to have her hair cut off due to the amount of fleas and lice which had infested the hospitals. Victoria also noted that the selfless caregiver “looks very thin & care worn” as a result of her non-stop commitment to the sick. Over the coming days, Queen Victoria continued to meet with Florence at Birkhall. Victoria writes that on 26th Sepmuch-neededtember she and her daughters drove to St James’s house, where the two icons “had much conversation” about the suffering that had been experienced by the “poor men”. Wanting to help Florence with her cause as much as possible, Victoria suggested that Miss Nightingale stay in Scotland until Lord Palmerston arrived at the beginning of October so the two could discuss the much needed reform. According to the Queen, the discussion had been most successful.
Had some long conversation with excellent Miss Nightingale, whose affection for my poor good soldiers, is really most touching, & whose philanthropy & truly Christ-like spirit of true charity are beautiful.”
– Queen Victoria, 4th October 1856
While Victoria’s impression of “the celebrated Florence Nightingale” had been positive, the latter wasn’t quite so impressed; describing the Queen as “the least self-reliant person she has ever known” due to her constant reliance on Albert to carry out a conversation. Nonetheless, she maintained a lifelong correspondence with the monarch, who was always prepared to help her nursing hero. In 1861, Victoria offered Nightingale a Grace and Favour apartment at Kensington Palace. However, this was declined and Nightingale remained at the Burlington Hotel as a result of its convenient location.
Like many, Nightingale was devastated by the premature death of Prince Albert, which she described as “incalculable”. For a while, Florence sympathised with the grieving Queen but, just like everyone else, came to believe that Victoria’s position meant that she “must set aside a personal griefs and attend to the respublica”. Over the next few years, the two would remain in contact and regularly sent each other books. Florence sent Victoria books about nursing, while the Queen sent Florence books about her beloved Albert.
While Albert wasn’t around, his absence was filled by his two eldest daughters, Princesses Victoria and Alice. Having spent their youth visiting hospitals with their mother, the two young women had become great admirers of Florence Nightingale, with whom they remained in contact with throughout their adult lives. As the Crown Princess of Prussia, Victoria often turned to Florence for advice on building and organising new hospitals in Berlin. Alice also regularly contacted Miss Nightingale about how best to manage hospitals in her new hometown of Hesse. Another of Queen Victoria’s daughters, Princess Helena, had also been inspired by Nightingale’s work and went on to establish both the Princess Christian nursing home and training centre. Helena would also become one of the founding members of the British Red Cross.
In 1883 Queen Victoria established the Royal Red Cross to recognise exceptional service in nursing those that were either sick or injured while serving in the Army and Navy; making it the first British Military honour specifically for women. Unfortunately Florence had been too unwell to attend the ceremony and, as a result, had to decline the offer to stay at Windsor Castle. Later that year Florence requested that the Queen dine with the visiting Prince of Siam. Perhaps signalling a decline in their relationship, Miss Nightingale received a sharp response, saying that it was “a bad time” due to the upcoming anniversary of Albert’s passing.
While she dedicated her life to modernising nursing, Florence spent her later years living a quiet life. In 1904 King Edward VII gave her the title of Lady of Grace of the order of Jerusalem and three years later she became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit. Once again, the nursing hero had become too frail to attend the ceremony so the award was delivered to her at home. Although frail, Florence lived long enough to see the accession of King George V, who sent her a telegram congratulating her on her 90th birthday as one of his first acts as King. Florence passed away just three months later, on 13th August 1910. Her family were offered a national funeral but this was declined due to Miss Nightingale’s no-fuss nature. Instead, the Victorian icon was privately buried at her family home, Embley Park in Hampshire, although crowds still gathered to watch her coffin leave London.
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