She reigned over the British Empire for over 63 years and 216 days and oversaw a period of drastic political, industrial, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom.
Alexandrina Victoria was born on the 24th May 1819. She was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days is known as the Victorian era and was longer than any King or Queen before her.
The Victorian era was a period of great expansion. The Industrial Revolution transformed Britain from a rurally based economy to an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse.
In 1876, the British Parliament voted to grant her the additional title of Empress of India.
Her father was Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and her mother was Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
After the deaths of her father and grandfather in 1820, she was raised by her strict mother. She inherited the throne aged 18 after her father’s three elder brothers died.
Victoria, attempted privately to influence government policy and ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards of personal morality.
Victoria married her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. They had a very stable and loving relationship and had five girls and four boys during their marriage.
Their children themselves married into royal and noble families across the continent, earning Victoria the title “The grandmother of Europe”.
Unfortunately, her children also spread the inherited disease hemophilia across European royalty.
After Albert’s sudden death of Typhoid Fever in 1861, Victoria plunged into an extended period of deep mourning and avoided public appearances. As a result of her seclusion, British Republicanism grew, but in the latter half of her reign, her popularity returned. She, however, continued to wear black in his honour for the rest of her life.
Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were times of great public celebration, in Britain and across the world.
Victoria died in 1901 at Osborne House, her favourite residence, on the Isle of Wight, at the age of 81.
Our sister site, Educational Musical, loves the Victorian era, and has a great musical all about Victorian Britain.
THE VICTORIAN HISTORIAN – A Journery to Victorian England which you can download by clicking on THE VICTORIAN HISTORIAN – A Journery to Victorian England.
It has 12 amazing songs, A time machine, Victorian villains, even Queen Victoria herself.
It’s a show created specifically to be performed by children, and yours will love it!
Isn’t History fun?
10 questions to discuss:
- How did Queen Victoria’s upbringing influence her personality and reign?
- What were some of the key political and social changes that occurred during the Victorian era?
- What role did Queen Victoria play in the expansion of the British Empire?
- Describe the influence Queen Victoria had on British public life and identity.
- What were some of the criticisms or challenges faced by Queen Victoria during her reign?
- How did Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert impact her reign and public image?
- What was the significance of Queen Victoria being known as “The grandmother of Europe”?
- How did Queen Victoria’s period of mourning after Prince Albert’s death affect her relationship with the public?
- Compare and contrast the public celebrations during Queen Victoria’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
- How do historians evaluate Queen Victoria’s legacy and impact on British history?
These questions delve deeper into the complexities of Queen Victoria’s reign, exploring her influence on politics, society, and public perception.
For more on this click on:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Victoria-queen-of-United-Kingdom
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/queen-victoria/
https://www.biography.com/royalty/queen-victoria
© Anthony James