Queen Victoria

The longest reigning was Queen Victoria , who reigned for sixty-four years during te 19th  century. During her reign the British empire flaurished and Britain developed as an industrial, commercial and political power.

"Every woman deserves an Albert in her life”

Alexandrina Victoria of the House of Hanover was born at Kensington Palace, London, on May 24^th, 1819. Her mother was a German princess. Victoria became queen in 1837 when her uncle King William IV died. She was 18 years old. Young Victoria fell in love with her first cousin Prince Albert. They were married in 1840. Victoria and Albert had 9 children and were a happy couple. When Prince Albert died in 1861, Victoria avoided London for a long time. She mourned his death for almost 10 years. For the rest of her reign she wore black.

Queen Victoria had many royal descendants and became known as the “ grand-mother of Europe” ,because many of her children and grandchildren married into the royal families of other European countries.

Her first-born daughter became empress of Germany, while one of her grand-daughters was the last empress of  Russia. Victoria was queen of Great Britain for most of the 19^th century. The Queen was considered the living symbol of prosperity. She died on January 22^nd, 1901.

Did you know?

-      Victoria was 5 feet tall (1.52m.tall).

-      Both Queen Elizabeth, the Queen today, and her consort (as her husband is known), the Duke of Edinburgh, are great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.

-      Victoria had nine children, 40 grand-children (nipoti) and 37 great-grandchildren , scattered  all over Europe. Most of Queen Victoria's children married into other royal families of Europe.

-      The only time when there was no King or Queen in Britain was when the country was  a Republic between 1649 and 1660. In 1649 King Charles I was executed and Britain became a Republic for eleven years. The monarchy was restored in 1660.

-      Queen Victoria had many homes. She lived in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Osborne House (Isle of Wight) and Balmoral Castle. 

-      Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live in Buckingham Palace.

Her favourite hobbies and her love for the animals

Dash and Polly, two pets belonging to Queen Victoria