Queen Victoria
What do you already know about Queen Victoria?
Victoria became Queen aged 18 years old on the 20th June 1837 when King William IV died. William IV was Victoria’s uncle and when he died Victoria was the next in line to the throne.
Queen Victoria was crowned on the 28th June 1838 in Westminster Abbey in London. There was lots of public celebrations and a large procession through London similar to what we still have now.
She married Prince Albert on the 10th February 1840 and they had nine children together! Their eldest child was a daughter called Victoria, the Princess Royal. Their second eldest was a boy called Albert Edward and because he was male he was the heir to the throne.
This rule favouring a male heir was only changed incredibly recently, during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The Succession to the Crown Act in 2013 meant that children of a King or Queen would be the heir to the throne in the order that they are born. Whether they were a boy or girl would no longer matter!
Queen Victoria reigned for 64 years.
Did you know...
Queen Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years.
Wedding Portrait celebrating the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Photo of the family
The time in which Victoria was Queen was called the Victorian Age. Victoria was Queen of a joint Great Britain and Ireland. She also ruled over the British Empire and during Victoria’s reign is expanded across the world, with Britain ruling countries such as Canada, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand.
During the Victorian Age Britain changed quite a lot. Britain went from being a very rural country to being an industrial place to live, with many towns and factories being created. London became the biggest city in the world.
Lots of amazing things first happened, for example people had their photograph taken for the first time. During this time Queen Victoria was the first monarch to have a photograph taken, so along with paintings we can see photos of what she actually looked like too!
There were other inventions too, for example some people started to have electric lighting in their homes and electric street lights started to replace gas ones. Phones were invented and early cars first started appearing too. Bike tyres, like the ones you might have, with an inner tube and rubber tyre, were also invented during the Victorian Age.
Horse drawn carriages were the most common form of transport but steam train journeys became increasingly popular during this time. The first railway line was opened in 1825. They quickly spread across the whole country and even allowed people to go to seaside on holiday for the first time!Â
London was the biggest city in the world, so it was very busy. The first traffic signals were installed outside the Houses of Parliament in 1868.
Christmas’ like we have now started during Victoria’s reign, with people having Christmas trees in their house and people sending Christmas cards to each other.
While Victoria was Queen Great Britain was at war with Russia, in a war called the Crimean War. During this time nurses Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole went to look after the wounded soldiers that were fighting in the war. Brave soldiers that fought in this war were given the Victoria Cross, which soldiers still receive for fighting bravely in wars today.
Steam Trains became a common mode of transport in the Victorian times.
Christmas Traditions that we know today were started by the Victorians.
Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert died on the 14th December 1861 at Windsor Castle. He was only 42 years old. Victoria was incredibly unhappy and from that point onwards she always wore black, the colour many people wear to funerals.
Victoria died aged 81 at Osborne House on the 22nd of January 1901. Her first born son, Albert Edward, became King and was called King Edward VII.
Elizabeth II was her great great granddaughter and would take the throne 51 years later.
Queen Victoria married Prince Albert early in her reign.
This is thought to be the earliest known photograph of Queen Victoria. It also includes her eldest daughter Princess Victoria.
A portrait photograph of the Queen in 1882.
What we've learnt...
Victoria was Queen for almost 64 years. She was 18 when she became Queen. She died when she was 81 years old.
Queen Victoria was married to Prince Albert. They had nine children together. Sadly Albert died when was only 42 years old.Â
The time that Victoria reigned is called the Victorian Age. It was a time with lots of changes.
Britain changed from a very rural country to being an industrial place to live, with many towns and factories being created.Â
Lots of things we use now were invented during this time.
Queen Victoria died in 1901. Her eldest son Albert Edward became King after her, he was called King Edward VII.
Test your knowledge...
Queen Victoria Quiz
If you click the correct answer the box will turn green. If it’s the wrong answer it will turn red and then show you what the correct answer was.
#1. How many children did Queen Victoria have?
#2. Who was Queen Victoria married to?
#3. When was the first trainline opened?
#4. When did Queen Victoria die?
#5. How long was Victoria Queen for?
Results
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Queen Victoria, with me Tock!
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