Queen Victoria was crowned when she was just 18, and her reign lasted 63 years. She restored the image of the monarchy during a time of great economic, political and societal change.
Lived: 1819–1901
Field: Royalty
Key fact: Reigned during a period of immense change which saw a great expansion of the British Empire.
ACCESSION TO THE THRONE
Victoria was the niece and only living heir of William IV. She was crowned queen in 1837, aged just 18. Despite her age Victoria wasn’t naive about what this would entail – she had been trained and educated for the role of monarch from a very early age.
Victoria’s accession to the throne was initially immensely popular. Little was known about the new queen, and for the first few weeks of her reign her actions were widely discussed. Crowds of well-wishers attended her early public appearances.
MARRIAGE TO PRINCE ALBERT
In 1840, at the age of 20, Victoria married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Initially she was keen to assert her authority over her husband, even choosing Albert’s household for him. The unusual marriage dynamic was a source of contention for the couple – Albert often bemoaned that he could never truly be ‘master in his house’.
However, after two years of marriage it was clear that Albert had become the dominant partner in the relationship. At the same time, Victoria embraced the popular, submissive role of a wife, as women were perceived to be naturally inferior to and dependent on men. Victoria increasingly relied on Albert in political matters, particularly foreign affairs. He essentially became king in all but name, forming a sort of dual monarchy.
To escape the pressures of life at London and Windsor, in 1845 Victoria and Albert bought an estate on the Isle of Wight. Under Albert’s supervision Osborne House was built there as a seaside family retreat for their growing family. It was completed in 1851.
