Know Your 'Victoria' History: "Entente Cordiale"

Think you know the history of Queen Victoria's reign? Wondering how much of the history portrayed by PBS series Victoria is accurate?  We run down the truth behind the drama in the latest episodes of Season 2, "Entente Cordiale."

Isabella II of Spain

Despite Victoria's declaration of "poor girl," Isabella had actually been queen far longer than our English monarch. She was declared sovereign upon the death of her father in 1833, at only three years old. That she is now 13 mean it's 1843, and denotes a time jump from last week's installment, which ended upon the birth of the future Edward VII, in November of 1841.

Isabella had already had a frightfully interesting reign, as for most of that decade her uncle, Ferdinand's brother Carlos, attempted to fight for the throne. Isabella only remained queen because of the Army being on her mother's side. So it is understandable that the moment she got anywhere near of age, there was a massive effort to have her engaged. As it was, it did not happen until 1846.