[HRH Kerry]

Originally Posted by LadyCat

Since both Victoria and Albert were essentially German, I think their hearts were in the right place. They evidently knew, or believed, the German states would eventually have to be united and would have preferred the unification to happen peacefully and become more of a constitutional monarchy like England. It is rather sad that they assigned this task to Vicky, who turned out to be woefully unsuited, and that Albert did not live long enough to assist her in making his dream a reality.

Vicky was a princess, plain and simple, of good intelligence but she was not a diplomat. Even if she was this no mere feat to be accomplished by one and especially not by a young woman. True enough Victoria and Albert had the insight to see that which way the wind was blowing for Prussia, the Kaiser, Bismarck, and the other cronies didn't want any outside interference that wasn't within their plans. How can you be peaceful with those who don't want it? The Prussian Empire might've been in fear on becoming a part on the British Empire.

Originally Posted by LadyCat

There were several factors that conspired against them, and Vicky and Fritz. I don't think they counted on Bismark and his unification of Germany by sheer brute force. Nor was Vicky's ingrained "Englishness" considered. Vicky was either unable or unwilling to blend into the existing Prussian Court before she let her liberal views be known. She lacked the common sense and diplomatic skills necessary for the task her parents laid upon her.

I believe Vicky in all of her righteousness of being her mother's daughter refused to willingly blend into the Prussian Court. My take is that her mom was the head of the most powerful monarchy and it was within her power to make a change. She didn't wait to see how the clock turned but jumped in feet first and foolishly voiced all very English opinions in what I can only describe as a very suspicious and hostile Prussia.

Originally Posted by LadyCat

Willy's personality was also another factor no one could have foreseen. None of these men, especially Willy and Nicky, were raised to fully appreciate and understand the roles they would eventually assume. Had Willy been shown more tolerance by his English grandmother and uncle, even his cousin George, the whole thing might have turned out quite differently. If Willy had been able to select his friends and advisers better it also would have helped.

True but Bismarck took advantage of Willy's personally. I'll leave it at that since I'm going too far ahead. But Vicky seemed to be a very shallow and selfish person when it came to her kids. Willy wasn't perfect to her. No crap Sherlock! She didn't try hard enough to be a good influence on him. I don't know how results would have differed if he would've been able to choose his own friends and advisors with that volatile personality of his. Remember flattery was a problem but it was also what he wanted. Who's to say if this would've played out differently if he didn't receive it? He was so unpredictable.

Originally Posted by LadyCat

Then again, had Nicky's grandfather not been assassinated, Russia might have been more liberal. Sadly Sacha reacted very badly to his father's death. He and Alix both failed in preparing Nicky to be Tsar, just as Vicky and Fritz failed with Willy.

Oh, without a doubt. Besides Russia was on its way to a "better tomorrow" but Sasha ripped up the reform proposals written by his father. The reforms were a step forward. I believe that Sasha as well as Nicky were ill prepared to rule as a result of Alexander II untimely assassination.