Queen Victoria, 1819 to 1901
The girl who said “I will be good”, the wife, the widow, the empress and the grandmother of Europe.
Jump to: Growing up | Becoming queen | Albert | After Albert | Later years
Growing up
She was born on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace in London. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom Her father died when she was a baby, and she was brought up by her mother at Kensington Palace. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
She found out during a history lesson, aged 10, that she would one day be queen. Her governess later said that Victoria replied: “I will be good.” Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
Becoming queen
She learned in the early hours of 20 June 1837 that King William IV had died and that she was queen. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom She became queen at the age of 18. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
Her coronation was on 28 June 1838. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom A woman could not inherit the throne of Hanover, so when she became queen the crowns of Great Britain and Hanover were separated. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
She kept a journal all through her life. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
Victoria and Albert
Victoria proposed to her cousin Albert on 15 October 1839, just five days after he arrived at Windsor. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom They married on 10 February 1840. The queen was dressed entirely in things made in Britain. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
Victoria and Albert had nine children. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom Their eldest son, Albert Edward (1841–1910), became King Edward VII. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
Through their children’s marriages, many of Europe’s royal families were descended from Victoria. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom When she died, 37 of her great-grandchildren were alive. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
For Victoria and Albert, the high point of the reign came in 1851, with the opening of the Great Exhibition. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, relations with Peel Two royal homes were built in this period: Osborne, on the Isle of Wight, and Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, relations with Peel
Victoria called Osborne “our island home”, but she was happiest at Balmoral. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, relations with Peel Without the railway and the telegraph, her long stays at Osborne and Balmoral would have been impossible. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, widowhood
After Albert
Prince Albert died on 14 December 1861. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, relations with Peel After Albert died, Victoria remained in mourning and in partial retirement from public life. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, widowhood
“Empress of India” was added to her title in 1876. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, widowhood She supported Disraeli’s reform of the franchise (who could vote) in 1867. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, widowhood
She was against votes for women: she thought the idea of female suffrage “anathema”. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, last years
Later years
Her Jubilees of 1887 and 1897 showed that she had become popular. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, last years During her reign the British monarchy took on its modern ceremonial character. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
Britannica says Victoria had no interest in social issues, yet the 19th century in Britain was an age of reform. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom
In May 1899, at what turned out to be her last public ceremony, Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone for Aston Webb’s new museum building. V&A: Building the Museum
She died on 22 January 1901 at Osborne, near Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom She was buried beside Prince Albert in the mausoleum at Frogmore, near Windsor. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, last years
Her reign was the longest in British history until that of Elizabeth II. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, last years
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