Queen Victoria's Troubled Relationship with Lady Flora Hastings

Queen Victoria's strained relationship with Lady Flora Hastings, one of her attendants, is explored. Victoria, a teenager at the time, was at odds with her mother and her mother's comptroller, Sir John Conroy, who controlled her life. Flora was brought in with the intention of creating a divide between Victoria and her governess. Rumors of Flora's pregnancy started circulating, instigated by Conroy. Victoria believed the rumors and put pressure on Flora to confess. Flora denied the allegations and agreed to a medical examination, which ultimately proved she was not pregnant. However, the rumors persisted, leading to a scandal that damaged Victoria's reputation. Flora's health deteriorated, and she passed away from a tumor on her liver. The scandal left a lasting impact on Victoria's early reign.