Plus Size Women Throughout History: Queen Victoria

Plus Size Women Throughout History: Queen Victoria

I know that I like to dance around the chronological history timeline as much as I like to sing into my hairbrush to Tom Jones’ Sex Bomb. (That is a lot if you did not already know). So, when I write these pieces my fingers type before my mind had chance to think about the topic.

Having spent the last few weeks re-watching the ITV series of Queen Victoria I began to wonder why I had not covered her yet. Her life is fascinating, filled with a loving marriage to Albert, many survived assassination attempts and a significant impact on the reputation of the Monarchy. Oh, and did I mention she was an Empress? Isn’t that posh?

She was patron of 150 institutions, and even after the death of her sweetheart Albert, she continued to give audiences to officials though she retreated from the public eye to mourn for a period of time. Queen Victoria is represented through photographs, caricatures, and etchings throughout her life.

If you have seen any statues of her, she is often depicted as later in life as the plus size woman she was. However, what made me chuckle is that when she was born Baron Stockmar, doctor to her uncle Prince Leopold, described her as plump as a partridge. We have all been there love.

The Transformation of the Queen

Into her teens, Queen Victoria demonstrated a 22-inch waist which is equivalent now to a size 6. Images of Young Victoria are rarely circulated, often overshadowed by the dominant, fuller figured woman. I suppose this is an interesting observation as her strength and reputation grew with age.

Of course her body changed with time and as I say she did have nine children which would have impacted her body shape. She was not the Kim Kardashian snap back queen so many aspire to today.

Queen Victoria was a powerful and formidable woman, and certainly did not make decisions that we would agree with in the 21st century. I think the lasting image of this wide woman with a double chin and a stoic expression represents just what a powerhouse she was, and was deliberately chosen to represent her as a strong woman who should not be challenged.

Power and the Plus Size Figure

The portrayal of her weight may also have been linked to her gender. A nineteenth century woman was the angel of the house, a delicate woman who brought faith and grace to the home. In order for Queen Victoria to have been taken seriously as the ruler of an Empire, she needed to be devoid of her feminine traits.

Arguably, her power within her realm increased as her femininity decreased, which is a fascinating notion to explore when looking at plus size women throughout history. Like her or not, she dominated the public sphere.

Portraying her in an unfeminine light may have been the only way for some observers to stomach her rule. Yet, she loved, and was loved. She was a mother of nine children. She was able to uphold the stereotypical necessities of femininity while thriving in a masculine world, and regardless of her policies that is not something to be sniffed at.

The Mystery of the Queen Victoria weight gain

After the death of Albert she had her largest weight gain and later went on a secret weight loss retreat to climb a few hills to shed the pounds. Queen Victoria seemed to be in a constant battle with her weight reading from her journals, and with the advice of health officials she undertook many a remedy.

A few days into her super secret weight loss retreat climb she said she was feeling lighter and returned to her duties. Her figure of course, did not change dramatically, and she remained the outstanding lady the name Victoria conjures to our minds. She had a slight reputation of being a glutton and numerous people account her eating quickly and large amounts. Queen Victoria lived in an age where it was not really known to exercise.

If you could afford it, you would be waited on and of course as royalty she was. Her figure was a great representation to the public that she had wealth and prestige. She ruled as a confident leader and had over 60 years in power. She was the longest reigning monarch, that is until our Liz took over this milestone in 2015.

A note to our readers: although we use historical figures to comment on the representation of plus size women throughout history we are not commenting on the suitability of their role, merely their position as a plus size woman in history.

FAQ: Queen Victoria Height and Weight

How heavy was Queen Victoria when she died? While there are no official medical records of her weight on a scale, historians estimate her weight was significant for her height. Based on her mourning clothes from 1901, her waist measurement was approximately 54 inches.

What was the Queen Victoria height? She was famously petite, standing at just 4 feet 11 inches tall. This small stature meant that any weight gain was very prominent in her silhouette.

What was Queen Victoria’s dress size? In her youth, she had a 22-inch waist, which would be a modern UK size 6. By the end of her reign, her chemises measured 66 inches around the bust, showing a dramatic change in size over the decades.

Did Queen Victoria ever lose weight? She frequently tried various health remedies and walking retreats. While she reported feeling lighter in her journals, her physical appearance remained that of a powerful, fuller-figured woman until her death.

See our other plus size history posts here.