Queen Victoria (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)
Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) went down in history as a monarch whose name became synonymous with an entire era. Ascending to the throne in 1837 at the age of 18, she inaugurated the period now known as the Victorian Era. This was a golden age of industrial, scientific, and political transformation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. During her reign, which lasted over 63 years, the British Empire expanded to its greatest size and established commercial and industrial hegemony in the world at that time.
In 1876, Parliament granted the Queen the additional title - Empress of India.
During her leadership, the country experienced a true industrial boom. The positive fruits of the Industrial Revolution, vibrant trade, and the resolution of pressing social issues for workers led to a significant rise in the economy and the well-being of society. Great Britain became the world's workshop, and its influence stretched across all continents.
In 1851, the First Great Exhibition was held in London, gathering the achievements of advanced thought from all countries of the world.
An important element of her successful era was her happy marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was her first cousin. By royal custom, it was Victoria who proposed to him in 1840. Their wedding ceremony started a world-famous tradition: the Queen was the first to choose a white dress for the occasion, symbolizing purity and happiness. Nine children were born from this union, who, in turn, gave her 40 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Due to the large number of family ties that spread across all of Europe, Victoria is often called the "Grandmother of Europe," successfully solidifying the influence of the British Crown.
Her magnificent reign concluded in 1901, but the legacy of the Victorian Era, which shaped modern Great Britain, remains unchanged. Leaving behind a powerful empire, Queen Victoria became one of the most prominent figures in world history.
P.S. Image attribution: Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons