Changes

Victoria married her first cousin, [[Prince Albert]] of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, aged 20, in 1840. A match which had been cherished and planned by King Leopold, it turned out to be a happy one, with a profound love developing on both sides. Albert, who had the title of prince, not king, managed of all of Victoria's affairs, both public and private. His strong, highly intelligent, and matter-of-fact personality was dominant. Albert swung Victoria's political orientation in a more conservative direction, and was largely responsible for setting the tone of moral earnestness and strait-laced propriety which characterized of the Victorian Age.

Victoria married her first cousin, [[Prince Albert]] of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, aged 20, in 1840. A match which had been cherished and planned by King Leopold, it turned out to be a happy one, with a profound love developing on both sides. Albert, who had the title of prince, not king, managed of all of Victoria's affairs, both public and private. His strong, highly intelligent, and matter-of-fact personality was dominant. Albert swung Victoria's political orientation in a more conservative direction, and was largely responsible for setting the tone of moral earnestness and strait-laced propriety which characterized of the Victorian Age.

During the next twenty years Victoria had nine children. Though her family responsibilities left her little time for public appearances, the [[Great Exhibition of 1851]]--planned and organized by Prince Albert--was an occasion for pageantry. She worked hard, under the influence of the prince, to make her views on public questions felt by the cabinet and in this she had her successes. She was related to royalty across Europe, and she followed the international news.

During the next twenty years Victoria had nine children. Though her family responsibilities left her little time for public appearances, the [[Great Exhibition of 1851]]—planned and organized by Prince Albert—was an occasion for pageantry. She worked hard, under the influence of the prince, to make her views on public questions felt by the cabinet and in this she had her successes. She was related to royalty across Europe, and she followed the international news.

==Widow==

==Widow==

The greatest test of the Queen's life came in December 1861 when, after a short illness, the prince died from [[typhoid fever]]. She was overcome with grief and went into formal mourning for the remainder of her life. She lived in seclusion, focused on child rearing and giving up much of the political influence which she had exerted with Albert. For ten years Victoria made no ceremonial appearances in public, saying the public did not wish to see "a poor, broken-hearted widow, dragged in deep mourning, alone in State as a show."<ref> Christopher Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' (2001) [http://books.google.com/books?id=JdE4oBKAnA0C&pg=PA312&lpg=PA312&dq=poor,+broken-hearted+widow,+dragged+in+deep+mourning,&source=web&ots=8R7Myjky79&sig=0fD7_9Mse8nuPqOlAROk8CuoM5k&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result online p. 81]</ref>  Her popularity revived in the 1870s.

The greatest test of the Queen's life came in December 1861 when, after a short illness, the prince died from [[typhoid fever]]. She was overcome with grief and went into formal mourning for the remainder of her life. She lived in seclusion, focused on child rearing and giving up much of the political influence which she had exerted with Albert. For ten years Victoria made no ceremonial appearances in public, saying the public did not wish to see "a poor, broken-hearted widow, dragged in deep mourning, alone in State as a show."<ref>Christopher Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' (2001) [http://books.google.com/books?id=JdE4oBKAnA0C&pg=PA312&lpg=PA312&dq=poor,+broken-hearted+widow,+dragged+in+deep+mourning,&source=web&ots=8R7Myjky79&sig=0fD7_9Mse8nuPqOlAROk8CuoM5k&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result online p. 81]</ref>  Her popularity revived in the 1870s.

The Queen and Albert had been close to Britain's Whig party, but after 1870 she came around to the expansionist and imperialist views of the Conservative party. She strongly supported [[Benjamin Disraeli]]'s Conservative ministry from 1874 to 1880, and in 1876 when he made her [[Empress of India]] she showed her gratitude to him by opening Parliament in person and by bestowing a peerage upon him. When Disraeli's government lost the 1880 election, the Queen was reluctant to send for [[William Gladstone]], whom she ridiculed as "that dreadful old man." Nevertheless Gladstone treated her suitable courtesy that stood in contrast to Disraeli's unbecoming mixture of banter and chivalry.

The Queen and Albert had been close to Britain's Whig party, but after 1870 she came around to the expansionist and imperialist views of the Conservative party. She strongly supported [[Benjamin Disraeli]]'s Conservative ministry from 1874 to 1880, and in 1876 when he made her [[Empress of India]] she showed her gratitude to him by opening Parliament in person and by bestowing a peerage upon him. When Disraeli's government lost the 1880 election, the Queen was reluctant to send for [[William Gladstone]], whom she ridiculed as "that dreadful old man." Nevertheless Gladstone treated her suitable courtesy that stood in contrast to Disraeli's unbecoming mixture of banter and chivalry.

==Empire==

==Empire==

Victoria eagerly promoted the progress of the [[British Empire]]. In 1876 Parliament made her Empress of India, a controversial decision engineered by Disraeli.<ref>L. A. Knights, "The Royal Titles Act and India." ''Historical Journal'' 11 (1968): 488-507 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2638165  in JSTOR] </ref> Already in the 1840s she intervened in the acrimonious debates over the military administration of India; in 1858 she and Prince Albert helped to bolster the position of the native Indian princes as the authority of the British [[East India Company]] was ended. By the late 1860s she thought and spoke of herself as empress of India. India offered her and Albert opportunities to try to protect and perhaps even extend royal prerogative during a period in which royal authority was becoming more circumscribed.<ref> Miles Taylor, "Queen Victoria and India, 1837-61."  ''Victorian Studies'' 2004 46(2): 264-274. Issn: 0042-5222 Fulltext: [[Project Muse]]</ref>

Victoria eagerly promoted the progress of the [[British Empire]]. In 1876 Parliament made her Empress of India, a controversial decision engineered by Disraeli.<ref>L. A. Knights, "The Royal Titles Act and India." ''Historical Journal'' 11 (1968): 488-507 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2638165  in JSTOR]</ref> Already in the 1840s she intervened in the acrimonious debates over the military administration of India; in 1858 she and Prince Albert helped to bolster the position of the native Indian princes as the authority of the British [[East India Company]] was ended. By the late 1860s she thought and spoke of herself as empress of India. India offered her and Albert opportunities to try to protect and perhaps even extend royal prerogative during a period in which royal authority was becoming more circumscribed.<ref>Miles Taylor, "Queen Victoria and India, 1837-61."  ''Victorian Studies'' 2004 46(2): 264-274. Issn: 0042-5222 Fulltext: [[Project Muse]]</ref>

Victoria endorsed Disraeli's move into Egypt through the government's purchase of part ownership in the [[Suez Canal]]. She was annoyed by Gladstone's failure to relieve Gen. [[Charles Gordon]] at [[Khartoum]], in the Sudan, south of Egypt. Gordon had gone there to evacuate Egyptian garrisons when the Sudanese revolted.  When Khartoum fell to the rebels and Gordon was killed (1885), the Queen publicly rebuked Gladstone.<ref>Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' (2001) p 372</ref>

Victoria endorsed Disraeli's move into Egypt through the government's purchase of part ownership in the [[Suez Canal]]. She was annoyed by Gladstone's failure to relieve Gen. [[Charles Gordon]] at [[Khartoum]], in the Sudan, south of Egypt. Gordon had gone there to evacuate Egyptian garrisons when the Sudanese revolted.  When Khartoum fell to the rebels and Gordon was killed (1885), the Queen publicly rebuked Gladstone.<ref>Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' (2001) p 372</ref>

Victoria supported Disraeli's successor [[Lord Salisbury]] in foreign and imperial affairs, notable the [[Boer War]] which began in 1899.  In domestic politics, however, she remained in step with liberal opinion, but she was a strong opponent of revolutionary change, such as women's suffrage.  In 1870 she said she had, "the strongest aversion for the socalled & most erroneous 'Rights of Woman'"<ref>P. Guedalla, ed., ''The Queen and Mr Gladstone,'' (1933), vol. 1 p. 221</ref>.

Victoria supported Disraeli's successor [[Lord Salisbury]] in foreign and imperial affairs, notable the [[Boer War]] which began in 1899.  In domestic politics, however, she remained in step with liberal opinion, but she was a strong opponent of revolutionary change, such as women's suffrage.  In 1870 she said she had, "the strongest aversion for the socalled & most erroneous 'Rights of Woman'".<ref>P. Guedalla, ed., ''The Queen and Mr Gladstone,'' (1933), vol. 1 p. 221</ref>  

===Jubilees===

===Jubilees===

==Character==

==Character==

Victoria was short and fair-skinned, with the striking blue eyes of the English royal family; her beautiful speaking voice was remarkable. Her bearing was regal. She appreciated wit. The dour put-down, "We are not amused" was in response to an off-colour joke that was inappropriate.<ref> Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' p. 467</ref>

Victoria was short and fair-skinned, with the striking blue eyes of the English royal family; her beautiful speaking voice was remarkable. Her bearing was regal. She appreciated wit. The dour put-down, "We are not amused" was in response to an off-colour joke that was inappropriate.<ref>Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' p. 467</ref>

Victoria was brought up by strict, old-fashioned German Lutherans, and remained a devout Protestant. Although head of the Church of England, she disliked both the high church and the evangelical wings.  She believed in the occult, in second sight, psychic phenomena, the power of magnetism, and even conducted séances.<ref> Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' p. 294-95</ref>

Victoria was brought up by strict, old-fashioned German Lutherans, and remained a devout Protestant. Although head of the Church of England, she disliked both the high church and the evangelical wings.  She believed in the occult, in second sight, psychic phenomena, the power of magnetism, and even conducted séances.<ref>Hibbert, ''Queen Victoria'' p. 294-95</ref>

After widowhood she came seldom to London.  

After widowhood she came seldom to London.