| Born this day in 1819, Victoria was the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837–1901) and empress of India (1876–1901). She was the last of the house of Hanover and gave her name to an era, the Victorian Age. During her reign the English monarchy took on its modern ceremonial character. She and her husband, Prince Consort Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, had nine children, through whose marriages were descended many of the royal families of Europe. During her lengthy reign, the longest in English history, Victoria restored both dignity and popularity to a tarnished crown: an achievement of character, as well as longevity. |