The Victorian Royal Nursery, 1840-1865. Creation, Organisation, Staff, Financing

"The Victorian Royal Nursery" delves into the intricate world of the nursery established for Queen Victoria's offspring. This work explores its inception, structure, and budget, placing emphasis on the pivotal figures responsible for the Royal children's care, including medical professionals, wet nurses, monthly and permanent nurses, as well as governesses and their assistants. The foundation of this study is largely drawn from a wealth of unpublished materials housed in the Royal Archives at Windsor, supplemented by lesser-known sources such as the journal of royal accoucheur Dr. Robert Ferguson and the diary of the head nurse, Mrs. Ann Thurston.In his work, Mr. Misztal offers a thorough and focused scholarly analysis of a segment of the Victorian Royal Household that has often been overlooked in prior literature. This exceptional study provides a complete and definitive narrative about this aspect of Queen Victoria's era, offering insights into a segment of her life that has generally been neglected.Misztal's detailed exploration of the royal nursery alone marks a significant addition to the field of royal studies. The fresh material he has uncovered offers new perspectives on Queen Victoria's psychological and emotional state postpartum, adding context to Albert's later worries regarding her mental health and the speculated inheritance of King George III's madness. The footnotes throughout the text are exemplary and richly supplemented with additional content.Overall, this work stands as an exceptional piece of research, providing a comprehensive account that is bound to become an essential resource.