Queen Victoria

Born on 24 May 1819 to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent & Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Alexandrina Victoria (crowned Queen Victoria on 28 June 1838) ruled the UK & Ireland for 63 years and 7 months (20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901), currently making her the longest serving British monarch and the longest serving female monarch in history.  Queen Victoria was also Empress of India from 1 May 1876 until her death.

Victoria ascended to the throne of the UK and Ireland at the age of 18, after her paternal uncles all died leaving no legitimate, surviving issue.  In her personal diary, she wrote the following upon learning she was Queen:

“I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing gown) and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I am Queen.”

Victoria’s coronation took place on 28 June 1838, and she became the first sovereign to take up residence at Buckingham Palace.

Marriage & Family Life

Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (her first cousin), on 10 February 1840 in the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace.  Victoria was madly in love with Albert and wrote the following on the evening of their wedding, describing her husband:

“I never, never spent such an evening!!! My dearest, dearest, dearest, dear Albert ... his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! ... to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!”

Victoria and Albert went on to have nine children together, being Victoria; Albert Edward; Alice; Alfred; Helena; Louise; Arthur; Leopold and Beatrice.

Titles

Throughout her life, Victoria held various titles:

• 24 May 1819 – 20 June 1837: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent
• 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901: Her Majesty The Queen
• 1 May 1876 – 22 January 1901: Her Imperial Majesty The Queen-Empress

By the end of her reign, Victoria’s full title was: "Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India”.

Widowhood & Later Life

Price Albert died from typhoid fever on 14 December 1861. Victoria was heartbroken and accounted her husband's death to worry over their son’s – Edward’s - philandering ways. Victoria entered a state of mourning and wore black for the remainder of her life, avoiding public appearances and rarely setting foot in London during the following years.  Victoria continued to undertake her official duties but chose to do so from her royal residences of Windsor Castle, Osborne House and Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

During the years following Albert’s death, Victoria became increasingly reliant on a manservant from Scotland, John Brown.  Rumours of a romantic connection and even a secret marriage appeared in print, and the Queen was referred to as "Mrs Brown".

During the Christmas period of 1900, Victoria spent time at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.  She had developed rheumatism in her legs and cataracts in her eyes.  Throughout January 1901, Victoria complained of feeling weak, unwell, drowzy and dazed.  Victoria died on 22 January 1901, with her son and successor King Edward VII, and her eldest grandson, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, at her deathbed.

Victoria had left written instructions concerning her funeral.  She stipulated that it was to be military (in respect of her being the head of the army) and stated that the dress code should be white, instead of black.

Her funeral took place on 2 February 1901 in the chapel at Windsor Castle.  Victoria then lay-in-state for two days before being interred next to Prince Albert in the mausoleum at Windsor Castle.  Victoria was dressed in a white dress and her wedding veil.  A variety of mementos were placed in the coffin at Victoria’s request, including one of Albert's dressing gowns, a plaster cast of his hand, a picture of John Brown and a lock of his hair.