Lord Briggs introduced the book as President of the Victorian Society. He observed that he had come down by train from Scotland that very day and it was interesting to see that mile per mile per hour, he traveled just a little more quickly than Queen Victoria did to France a century ago.

The centenary had aroused great interest in the Monarch whom the diarist, Greville, described as the greatest mind and character of the nineteenth century. He would not go as far as that but it was true that the Queen was a fascinating subject. The BBC were putting out many programmes of commemoration. In general, there were many books concentrating on the early part of her reign when Prince Albert was alive. Other books concentrated on the time after Albert’s death. Michael Nelson’s book looks at the third part of her reign and provides details fascinating for Victorian historians.

"Describing her connection with the Riviera, this paradise of nature as she described it, is a wonderful way of bringing her into a French setting," Lord Briggs said.

Among the personalities that Queen Victoria was involved with in the south of France was Lord Salisbury, her Prime Minister on occasions. He had the habit of making uncomfortable remarks like: "The Riviera is a difficult place: too many flies in summer, too many Royals in winter."

Apart from talking high politics on the Riviera, the Queen took part in the battles of flowers at Nice and Grasse. While her soldiers were fighting wars, the Queen and her party were also active throwing flowers at other soldiers.

"We’d all have liked to be there with her in that Paradise indeed," Lord Briggs declared.

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Asa Lord Briggs, President of the Victorian Society

Michael Nelson