She was born in 1819. At the age of eighteen, in 1837, she became queen. The years of her reign (1837-1901) were called the Victorian era - a time of stability, decency and prosperity. It was an unprecedented long reign in British history. Queen Victoria of England was the mistress of the vast British Empire. England itself in the 19th century turned into the forge of the world: industrial production gained unprecedented strength, trade flourished and cities grew.
At birth, she was given the beautiful name Alexandrina-Victoria. The first name is in honor of the godfather, Russian Emperor Alexander I. The childhood of the contender for the throne was more monastic than royal. The basis of her upbringing was all sorts of restrictions and strict instructions from the governess and mother (her father, the Duke of Kent, died 8 months after the birth of his daughter). Victoria learned about her brilliant prospect, that she was the future Queen of England, at the age of 12. “I will be good!” the princess then exclaimed, and throughout the long term of her reign she did not break her promise.
"Iron" education influenced the formation of such important character traits for the ruler asfirmness in decision-making, the ability to choose the most useful advice from many, and the most faithful ones from the personalities around her. The Queen of England was an imperious person, demonstrating independence, strength of character, fortitude, and at the same time always remained a woman. And then, when she fell in love with Prince Albert without memory, she became his wife, and later the mother of nine children. And then, when, after 20 years of a happy life with her adored husband, she wore mourning for many years and mourned his death.
It was from the time of the reign of Victoria that the royal power ceased to interfere in the political life of Great Britain. The monarchy was losing the features of a political institution, becoming a symbol, an institution more moral than political. Victoria is the first Queen of England, whose role in governing the country was purely symbolic. Under her reign, the state of the monarchy was formed, which was remarkably described by George Orwell: “… Gentlemen in bowlers have real power, and another person sits in a gilded carriage, symbolizing greatness …”.
Because of her extensive family ties and the influence that Queen Victoria of England had on European politics, she was affectionately nicknamed "the grandmother of Europe." No monarch in England was as popular as Victoria. Her reign strengthened the moral authority of the crown. Queen Victoria has far more monuments than any other British monarch, and her name is immortalized in the names of the Australian state, the famouswaterfall on the Zambezi River, the largest lake on the African continent, a city in Canada.
When the Queen of England died in 1901, people took the sad event as evidence of the end of the 19th century. With the death of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, defender of the faith, Empress of India (this was the title at the end of the Queen's reign), the era named after her - the Victorian - ended.
