Victoria

Queen Victoria is one of the most influential monarchs in British history and a symbolic figure of the Hanoverian dynasty. She ascended the throne at the age of 18 and reigned for 63 years, inaugurating the "Victorian Era," a golden age marked by the Industrial Revolution, the expansion of the British Empire, and cultural prosperity. She had a happy marriage with Prince Albert, and they had nine children. These children formed marital alliances with various European royal families, earning Victoria the nickname "Grandmother of Europe." During her reign, Britain experienced rapid industrialization, with innovations like railways, telegraphs, and steam engines profoundly transforming society and the economy. In 1861, Albert's death from typhoid fever plunged Victoria into deep mourning, and she wore black for the rest of her life. She passed away in 1901 on the Isle of Wight, marking the end of the Victorian Era. She remains a powerful symbol of Britain's peak period and left a lasting impact on world history.