Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 to 1901. She was born to a German princess and an English prince. She became Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain at the age of 18 after her uncle King William IV died. She inherited the throne because her father's three elder brothers died without leaving any legitimate children.
| Victoria | |
|---|---|
 Photograph by Alexander Bassano, 1882 | |
| Queen of the United Kingdom (more ...) | |
| 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901 | |
| 28 June 1838 | |
| Predecessor | William IV |
| Successor | Edward VII |
| Empress of India | |
| 1 May 1876 – 22 January 1901 | |
| Imperial Durbar | 1 January 1877 |
| Successor | Edward VII |
| Born | Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent 24 May 1819 Kensington Palace, London, England |
| Died | 22 January 1901 (aged 81) Osborne House, Isle of Wight, England |
| Burial | 4 February 1901 |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail | See list
|
| House | Hanover |
| Father | Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn |
| Mother | Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
| Signature |  |
She was taught by her governess, Louise Lehzen, and Reverend George Davys. She learned to speak and read German and French well. Queen Victoria enjoyed dancing, drawing, horse riding and singing. She had lessons as a child from the famous opera singer Luigi LaBlache. She liked to paint and could play the piano.[1] She kept a regular diary throughout her life.
Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert, in 1840. He supported science, trade and art in Britain. Victoria and Albert had nine children. They believed that a good family life and Christianity were very important. In general, English people followed their example.
The Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace opened in 1851. It happened partly because of Albert's hard work. The exhibition showed the success of British people in Victorian times.
In 1861, Prince Albert died and Victoria stayed away from public life.
Britain became more powerful in the following years, and in 1877, Victoria got the title 'Empress of India'. Victoria was very interested in India, but she never went there to the subcontinent. Her son went there instead.
In 1897, Victoria celebrated 60 years of being monarch. This surpassed her grandfather King George III. She was queen for 63 years, seven months longer than any other king or queen of Britain. People called her the 'grandmother of Europe' because many of Victoria's children became kings, princes and princesses of other countries.
After she died from a brain haemorrhage, her son Albert Edward became King Edward VII became King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 to 6 May 1910.
Children
Ancestors
| Victoria of the United Kingdom | Father: Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn |
Paternal Grandfather: George III of the United Kingdom |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Frederick, Prince of Wales |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha | |||
| Paternal Grandmother: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Charles Louis Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Mirow | ||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst | |||
| Mother: Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
Maternal Grandfather: Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | |
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Duchess Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | |||
| Maternal Grandmother: Princess Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Ernest Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen | ||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Sophia Albertine of Erbach-Erbach |
References
- ↑ Arnstein, Walter L. "Victoria, Queen of Great Britain." Europe 1789-1914, Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry & Empire. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 10 June 2014.
Other websites
- Queen Victoria Citizendium