Victoria

Victoria, born Alexandrina Victoria on 24 May 1819, ascended to the throne as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 20 June 1837, following the death of her uncle, William IV. She was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Her reign, which lasted until her death in 1901, was marked by significant industrial, political, scientific, and military changes within the United Kingdom, and saw a considerable expansion of the British Empire. In 1876, she was granted the additional title of Empress of India by the British Parliament. Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840, with whom she had nine children. After Prince Albert’s death in 1861, she went into deep mourning and avoided public appearances for a period, leading to a temporary rise in British republicanism. However, her popularity recovered in the latter half of her reign, with her Golden and Diamond jubilees being celebrated with great public fanfare. She died on 22 January 1901 at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.