QUEEN VICTORIA 1837-1901

Alexandrina Victoria was born in 1819 to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George III, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield. This little Princess lost her father in 1820 and was raised under the close supervision of her German-born mother. Victoria inherited the throne when she was eighteen years old and married her first cousin, Prince Albert Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. They had nine children, each one of them marrying into Royal and Noble families.
So much has been written with regards to this well-loved Queen, that I was quite at a loss as to know what to write. Reading through the many history books about Queen Victoria, what stood out was her character and sheer resolve to do the right thing for her country. A quote made by Queen Victoria on the very night that she was informed that she was now the Queen of England, puts us in no doubt as to the state of this young woman's mind :
"Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station, I shall do my utmost to fulfill my duty towards my country; I am very young and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am sure, that very few have more real good will and more desire to do what is fit and right than I have."
We have to remember that Victoria was only a young woman of eighteen years old when she spoke these words.

Rather than re-write the many history books found in the library about this remarkable Queen, I strongly recommend a read of some, if not all, of them. We see a ruly passionate Queen who loved her husband dearly and "did her duty !" by having nine living children. During Queen Victoria's life-time, so much changed in all areas of life that life would never be the same again and yet, it really did bring us closer to the life we know today.