QUEEN VICTORIA

Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20th June, 1837, until her death in 1901. On 1st May, 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India.
 (All information is from Wikipedia.)

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George III, was Victoria's father, her mother was Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Alexandrina Victoria was their only child, born at 4.15am on 24th May, 1819, at Kensington Palace in London. She was christened privately by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 24th June, 1819, in the Cupola Room at Kensington Palace, being baptized Alexandrina, after one of her godparents, Emperor Alexander I of Russia, and Victoria, after her mother. When she was born, Victoria was fifth in line to the throne.
Victoria herself described her childhood as "rather melancholy", her mother being extremely protective. She was isolated from other children under the so-called "Kensington System", which was designed to render Victoria weak and dependent unpon her mother and Sir John Conroy (who was rumoured to be her mother's lover). Victoria's mother, the Duchess, avoided the Court because she was scandalized by the presence of King William's illigitimate children. This may have prompted the emergence of Victorian morality. Sharing a bedroom with her mother every night, Victoria studied with private tutors to a regular timetable, and spent her play-hours with her dolls and her King Charles Spaniel, Dash. Victoria's lessons included French, German, Italian, and Latin, but she spoke only English at home. Her uncle Leopold, her mother's brother, was considered Victoria's "best and kindest adviser."

On 24th May, 1837, Victoria became 18. Less than a month later, King William IV died. Victoria became Queen. Official documents prepared on the first day of her reign described her as Alexandrina Victoria but the first name was with drawn at her own wish and never used again.
Lord Melbourne was the Prime Minister at this time, and soon became a powerful influence on the politically inexperienced Queen, who relied on him for advice. Victoria's Coronation took place on 28th June, 1838, at Westminster Abbey. This Queen became the first sovereign to take up residence at Buckingham Palace.

 Victoria fell in love with her cousin Prince Albert and they married on 10th February, 1840, in the Chapel Royal of St.James's Palace in London. The couple bought nine children into the world :
Victoria born on 21st November 1840
Albert Edward born 1841
Alice born 1843
Alfred born 1844
Helena born 1846
Louise born 1848
Arthur born 1850
Leopold born 1853
Beatrice born 1857.

Victoria's childhood governess, Baroness Louise Lehzen, was a great influence and close friend. However, Albert thought Lehzen was incompetent, and that her mismanagement threatened his daughter's health. Lehzen was pensioned off in 1842.

Albert became ill with typhoid fever and died on 14th December, 1861. Victoria was devastated and became isolated from the public for many years. In time, she realized the importance of being seen by her public and Victoria started her 'public duties' again. 

Queen Victoria saw all of her children married into Royal and Noble families. In 1887, the British Empire celebrated Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. On 23rd September, 1896, Queen Victoria became the longest-reigning Monarch of that time and celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. In 1901, Queen Victoria died at half past six in the evening of Tuesday 22nd January. Victoria was 81.
The Victoria Cross was introduced in 1856 to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War, and it remains the highest British award for bravery.