Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901)

Victoria was one of the most memorable and endearing of English monarchs. Her reign lasted more than sixty-three years, longer than that of any other British monarch, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. The Victorian Era came at the height of the Industrial Revolution, a period of significant social, economic, and technological change in the United Kingdom. It was also during her reign that the United Kingdom became the largest superpower the world had ever seen.

The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha first came to the British Royal Family in 1840 with the marriage of Victoria to Prince Albert, son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. Their strong bond was well documented and together they had nine children. Albert died in 1861 and a distraught Victoria became a recluse, despite being bestowed the title Empress of India in 1876. Victoria was the first British monarch to be photographed, although she often dressed as a widow and wore a glum expression. She died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her many children and grandchildren.