On this day in 1838, Queen Victoria of England was crowned in Westminster Abbey. She had already started reigning in 1837, aged 18, and would continue to do so until 1901. This made her the longest ruling British monarch untill then, but Queen Elizabeth II is currently setting a new record. Because of her long reign during most of the 19th century, this period is often called the Victorian age or Era.

During the Victorian Age, Great Britain transformed politically, economically, socially and culturally and reached its peak as the dominant global superpower. These changes were fuelled by the Industrial revolution and related revolutions in technology, science, communication, agriculture, transport etc. As a result of the French revolution and enlightenment, Britain also became more democratic with the right to vote expanding to more and more men.

Queen Victoria did not only rule Great Britain, but also reigned over an expanding British empire of colonies, dominions, and protectorates. It was the empire on which the sun never sets. Between 1837 and 1901 Britain gained power and influence over large parts of Africa and Asia. For example, Victoria became the empress of India in 1876 as Britain started ruling the Indian subcontinent directly.

Queen Victoria has been nicknamed the ‘grandmother of Europe’. She married her first cousin Albert and together they had 7 children and 42 grandchildren who married into other royal houses throughout Europe. This was not always beneficial for the royal families as the hereditary disease haemophilia spread. This famously affected the son of Tsar Nicholas II, her grandson. It also led to the interesting situation that three of her grandsons, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nicholas II and King George V were fighting each other in World War 1. 

Finally, Queen Victoria has borrowed her name to the strict morality and hardworking mentality of the 19th century which she also embodied. The Victorians were famously very prude, or at least would like to be perceived this way, and many books were written on proper etiquette and behaviour. 

Originally posted on Instagram on June 28, 2022