16 Times Victoria Made Us Wish History Didn’t Happen

Photo: ITV Plc

Lord Melbourne is Basically a Dream Man

Sure, Victoria’s portrayal of Lord Melbourne is hardly what one would call historically accurate. The real William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, would have been roughly a decade older at this point in his life than he is on the show. He’s also exponentially more handsome on Victoria. (Thanks, Rufus Sewell!) The real Melbourne was overweight and had an embarrassing habit of falling asleep in public. Not a dreamboat, clearly. So it seems obvious that even though the series made many changes to Melbourne’s historical character, they were all for the better. Including the fact that he and the young queen obviously have a thing for one another.

And even if it is wildly historically inaccurate, Victoria turned Lord Melbourne into the ultimate period drama dream man. He’s gorgeous. He’s stoic, but supportive. And he’s totally one of those self-sacrificing types. You know the ones, who put everyone else’s happiness before their own. He’s definitely got a serious savior complex. And he also has a rather tragic backstory that makes him even more sympathetic. Melbourne’s wife Caroline left him for a very public obsession and affair with the poet Lord Byron, which caused a tremendous scandal. And his only son died just before Victoria became queen. So, he’s pretty much made-to-order for those of us who enjoy our romantic heroes a little tortured. The fact that his relationship with Victoria- both personally and professionally – gives his life purpose again is just icing on the cake of his perfection.