PalakangBakla

When he says “as Victoria,” it is easy to simplify this statement as “only in name.”

Think about all of the female-specific social norms and niceties that Victor has chosen to commit to upholding until the day that he dies, such as the things he can and cannot say, whether public or private, because Victoria is a woman.

She wouldn’t be permitted to say and do what she wants simply because she is a Queen. In fact, her being Queen means that she would be scrutinized even more.

What about all of the fashion restrictions he has chosen to live under. It simply the styles— even the simplest female royal attire required another person to put on.

Not only because it was a complicated affair with all of its clasps and laces and ties, but also because it was a social affair. One wasn’t supposed to dress oneself.

Victor admits that it takes multiple people sworn to secrecy (of which William is only one) just to get dressed.

What to eat. How much to eat. When to eat (there were way more than three meals a day for high society at this time, and each required a change of clothes for women).

Even which bathroom Victoria can use, where to use one and even when.

This decision affects everything about him, down to how he can speak and to whom in which ways.

Victor chose all of this and more, when he could simply have either taken the throne only as “Victor” or as some other male.

This is how we know that “Victor” is not simply dressing up as a female monarch, and that “Victoria” is not simply an alter-ego.

There are many reasons for alter egos to be created. Typically they are used as a confidence boost, to achieve certain goals, or as a stress regulator for certain situations. One can put them on and take them off as one desires.

Victor can’t do that, because Victoria is part of his identity, something fixed and foundational to who he is.

Victoria is not something that “comes off.” He is Victoria wherever he goes, even making decisions as Victoria on the fly when speaking casually (and professionally) with Crown.

Every decision “Victoria” makes is something that “Victor” believes in. They are one and the same.

Victor can also be considered gender non-conforming (GNC). Unlike non-binary (although there can be some overlap), which is related to identity, GNC is related to the ways in which you express your gender.

Victor keeps all of this private, but there is one scene I could think of off the top of my head where he publicly places himself in a female role:

Harry says nothing about roles at all. He simply makes a request for information and Victor comes out with this all on his own.

It’s to get a laugh out of the reader, sure, but Victor has been living in a “female role” for decades, not simply in name.

No one says a word about this statement. No one even bats an eye.