Friday, January 1, 2010

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria can be considered the matriarch of the modern British royal family. Indeed, most, if not all, of the royal houses of Europe can show this remarkable queen somewhere in their family tree. She had nine children and 42 grandchildren, many of whom married into other royal families, thereby extending British influence across Europe.

Queen Victoria was born in 1819 and became queen in 1837, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday. At over 63 years, she is the longest-reigning female monarch ever - anywhere in the world.

Of mostly German descent, Victoria continued the House of Hanover. She was a niece of her predecessor, King William IV. Victoria's first name was Alexandrina, after Emperor Alexander I of Russia (her godfather); Victoria was the name of her mother.

(Next: Victoria and Albert)

5 comments:

  1. If you should happen to be in certain parts of the south coast of England, in every building you visit you will be told was built for Queen Victoria.

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  2. Really? So she was sort of like Pharoh in the building game. :)

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  3. Like Winchester Cathoria and like that? But her big statue is sitting in one building thereabouts. But only in the south of England. Odd. :)

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  4. It may very well be the same in the north of England, but I'm not so well acquainted with the north. She seems to have been fond of seaside resorts. Or it may all be wishful thinking.

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  5. Wishful Sheila: I am fond of seaside resorts as well. Can you think of any named after me? Preferably one with sand and not those shingle things? My puppy feet are rather tender. Perhaps "Max upon Weston-super-Mare"? I do so love the donkeys.

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