Having taken the throne, Victoria had to propose marriage to her cousin Prince Albert, not the other way around. She did so on Oct. 15, 1839. "At about ½ p.12, I sent for Albert," the queen wrote on the day. "He came to the Closet where I was alone, and after a few minutes I said to him, that I thought he must be aware why I wished them to come here,- and that it would make me too happy if he would consent to what I wished (to marry me); we embraced each other over and over again, and he was so kind, so affectionate... I really felt it was the happiest brightest moment in my life."
