5. American Idols

Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator at the Historic Royal Palaces, explores Queen Victoria's reign through significant encounters.

Victoria was a global celebrity, adept at exploiting her image. And she learned a few tricks from some of the extraordinarily popular entertainers who proved that her Majesty was often very amused indeed.

In 1844, the diminutive American performer whose stage name was Tom Thumb, made a side-splitting appearance at Buckingham Palace.

In a parody of court etiquette, he said 'much obliged Mama' when he shook the Queen's hand, and fought her dog with a sword.

Like Victoria herself, Tom Thumb’s manager, showman P.T. Barnum, knew the power of brand management. Having Tom Thumb to the palace made the queen look human, while Barnum got a lucrative Royal endorsement.

By 1887, the biggest show in town was again American: Buffalo Bill's Wild West: a whooping, tootin', gun-firing maelstrom of action, and Victoria commanded a private performance. It was thrilling and dangerous, but also a celebration of the guns which would allow Western Europe to ‘conquer’ the unknown.

Tom Thumb and Buffalo Bill gave the queen who’d become an empress both entertainment – and education.

With historian Helen Davies, V&A curator and writer Nicholas Rankin.

Readers: Sarah Ovens, Kenny Blyth

Producer: Mark Burman

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2019.