Queen Victoria

Portrait of Queen Victoria, 1887

Victoria (born May 24, 1819; died January 22, 1901) was queen of the United Kingdom between 1837 and 1901 and Empress of India from 1876 onwards. Her reign lasted 63 years, longer than that of any of her predecessors.

Early Years

Born Alexandrina Victoria, the future queen was raised largely in isolation by her mother (Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld). The deaths of young Victoria’s father (Edward, Duke of Kent) and his older brothers meant that when her uncle, King William IV, died in 1837, 18-year-old Victoria ascended to the throne.

Marriage & Family Life

Queen Victoria married her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. The couple was devoted to each other and would have nine children together. Albert was a powerful influence on Victoria during his life. Upon Albert’s death in 1861, Victoria famously began a years-long seclusion from public life and wore black in mourning for her remaining 40 years.

Reign

Key political events that occurred during Victoria’s long reign included the Chartist movement (1838-57), Irish Potato Famine (1845-49), repeal of the Corn Laws (1846), Crimean War (1853-56), Reform Acts of 1867 and 1885, and Russo-Turkish War (1877-78). Victoria’s rule also saw Britain’s transition to an industrialized nation, as well as its expansion into the British Empire.

Death

Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary of her reign) in 1897. She spent her last Christmas at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, where her already poor health rapidly declined.

She passed away on January 22, 1901. Her death marked the end of the Victorian Era, which spanned the years of her rule. She was succeeded by her son Edward VII.  

Legacy

Victoria’s popularity as a monarch rose and fell throughout her life, reaching a high point during her final decades. Her rule helped restore dignity to the British crown, and it was during her reign that the monarchy took on its modern ceremonial role. Because many of her children married into other royal families, Queen Victoria is sometimes called the “Grandmother of Europe.”

Learn more about Queen Victoria through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about Queen Victoria

Newspaper announcement of the birth of Princess Victoria to the Duke and Duchess of Kent Tue, May 25, 1819 – 4 · The Morning Chronicle (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comVictoria becomes queen in 1837 after the death of her uncle, King William IV Tue, Jun 20, 1837 – 3 · The Standard (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comEditorial: New queen Victoria will give "the country [...] greater happiness and prosperity" Wed, Jun 21, 1837 – 3 · The Morning Post (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comNewspaper account giving details of Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838 Fri, Jun 29, 1838 – 4 · The Morning Chronicle (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comAccount of royal wedding of Queen Victoria to husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840 Mon, Feb 10, 1840 – 3 · The Standard (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comEditorial in Irish newspaper about Queen Victoria's visit to Ireland in 1849 Fri, Aug 17, 1849 – 2 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comQueen Victoria creates the Victoria Cross, the highest British military award Wed, Feb 6, 1856 – 6 · The Morning Post (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comNewspaper reacts to the death of Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, in 1861 at age 42 Sun, Dec 15, 1861 – 4 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comSome worry that new title of "Empress of India" for Victoria would change the British monarchy Sun, Apr 2, 1876 – 4 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comDescription of Queen Victoria's close friend and attendant John Brown, after his death in 1883 Thu, Mar 29, 1883 – 5 · The Standard (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comNewspaper descriptions of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1887 Sat, Jun 25, 1887 – 3 · The Hampshire Advertiser (Southampton, Hampshire, England) · Newspapers.comArticle about Queen Victoria's love of dogs and a description of her kennels Sun, Sep 8, 1895 – 7 · Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express (Buffalo, New York) · Newspapers.comEditorial about Victoria becoming UK's longest-reigning monarch; Describes changes during her rule Wed, Sep 23, 1896 – 4 · Sheffield and Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England) · Newspapers.comAccounts of British Empire and Europe commemorating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 Wed, Jun 23, 1897 – Page 15 · The Times (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comPhoto and article about Queen Victoria and her attendant Munshi Abdul Karim Sat, Oct 16, 1897 – 7 · The Graphic: An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comBritish newspaper announcement of the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 Wed, Jan 23, 1901 – 5 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comCanadian newspaper carries front page news of death of Queen Victoria Tue, Jan 22, 1901 – Page 1 · The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.comEditorial about the influence of Victoria and the effects of her reign, written after her death Wed, Jan 23, 1901 – Page 8 · The Times (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comAfter funeral, Queen Victoria is interred at Frogmore Mausoleum, alongside husband Albert Tue, Feb 5, 1901 – Page 9 · The Times (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comPicture of Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India Tue, Jan 22, 1901 – Page 1 · The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Queen Victoria surrounded by her eldest children and the German emperor Tue, Jan 22, 1901 – Page 1 · San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com