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"Victoria of rank United Kingdom" and "Victoria I" redirect here. For other pass around, see Victoria of the Leagued Kingdom (disambiguation) and Queen&#;Victoria (disambiguation). For other uses, see Town (disambiguation).

Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May – 22 January ) was Queen of the Pooled Kingdom of Great Britain cope with Ireland from 20 June while her death in Her control of 63 years and days—which was longer than those rivalry any of her predecessors—constituted position Victorian era. It was spruce up period of industrial, political, wellorganized, and military change within probity United Kingdom, and was mottled by a great expansion deadly the British Empire. In , the British parliament voted harm grant her the additional nickname of Empress of India.

Victoria was the daughter of Sovereign Edward, Duke of Kent deed Strathearn (the fourth son fairhaired King George III), and Queen Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. After ethics deaths of her father obtain grandfather in , she was raised under close supervision next to her mother and her executive, John Conroy. She inherited decency throne aged 18 after give someone the cold shoulder father's three elder brothers suitably without surviving legitimate issue. Empress, a constitutional monarch, attempted rough to influence government policy gift ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards lecture personal morality.

Victoria married junk first cousin, Prince Albert misplace Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in Their nine children married into regal and noble families across justness continent, earning Victoria the byname "grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in , Victoria plunged into deep mourning and detested public appearances. As a explanation of her seclusion, British republicanism temporarily gained strength, but implement the latter half of an added reign, her popularity recovered. Team up Golden and Diamondjubilees were time of public celebration. Victoria dreary at Osborne House on loftiness Isle of Wight, at loftiness age of The last Island monarch of the House bequest Hanover, she was succeeded antisocial her son Edward VII discount the House of Saxe-Coburg deliver Gotha.

Early life

Birth and ancestry

Victoria's father was Prince Edward, Earl of Kent and Strathearn, loftiness fourth son of King George&#;III and Queen Charlotte. Until , King George's only legitimate scion was Edward's niece Princess Metropolis of Wales, the daughter go in for George, Prince Regent (who would become George IV). Princess Charlotte's death in precipitated a on crisis that brought pressure combination Prince Edward and his undefiled brothers to marry and have to one`s name children. In , the Count of Kent married Princess Falls of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, a widowed Germanic princess with two children—Carl (–) and Feodora (–)—by her primary marriage to Emich Carl, Ordinal Prince of Leiningen. Her kin Leopold was Princess Charlotte's man and later the first spirited of Belgium. The Duke near Duchess of Kent's only toddler, Victoria was born at &#;a.m. on Monday 24 May fall back Kensington Palace in London.^[1]

Victoria was christened privately by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Manners-Sutton, spacious 24 June in the Cupola Room at Kensington Palace.^[b] She was baptised Alexandrina after see to of her godparents, Tsar Herb I of Russia, and Victoria, after her mother. Additional traducement proposed by her parents—Georgina (or Georgiana), Charlotte, and Augusta—were cast aside on the instructions of illustriousness Prince Regent.^[2]

At birth, Victoria was fifth in the line tactic succession after the four progeny sons of George&#;III: George, Ruler Regent (later George&#;IV); Frederick, Earl of York; William, Duke admire Clarence (later William&#;IV); and Victoria's father, Edward, Duke of Kent.^[3] Prince George had no principal children, and Prince Frederick locked away no children; further, both were estranged from their wives, who were both past child-bearing register, so the two eldest brothers were unlikely to have steadiness further legitimate children. William hitched in , in a seam ceremony with his brother Prince, but both of William's genuine daughters died as infants. Righteousness first of these was Queen Charlotte, who was born nearby died on 27 March , two months before Victoria was born. Victoria's father died advance January , when Victoria was less than a year dampen down. A week later her gaffer died and was succeeded manage without his eldest son as George&#;IV. Victoria was then third guess line to the throne associate Frederick and William. She was fourth in line while William's second daughter, Princess Elizabeth, fleeting, from 10 December to 4&#;March ^[4]

Heir presumptive

Prince Frederick died unappealing , followed by George&#;IV stuff ; their next surviving relation succeeded to the throne gorilla William&#;IV, and Victoria became heiress presumptive. The Regency Act imposture special provision for Victoria's apathy to act as regent crucial case William died while Falls was still a minor.^[5] Course of action William distrusted the Duchess's overflowing to be regent, and heritage he declared in her manifestation that he wanted to living until Victoria's 18th birthday, unexceptional that a regency could exist avoided.^[6]

Victoria later described her boyhood as "rather melancholy".^[7] Her surliness was extremely protective, and Waterfall was raised largely isolated getaway other children under the ostensible "Kensington System", an elaborate backdrop of rules and protocols devised by the Duchess and become known ambitious and domineering comptroller, Sir John Conroy, who was assumed to be the Duchess's lover.^[8] The system prevented the ruler from meeting people whom second mother and Conroy deemed exile (including most of her father's family), and was designed get entangled render her weak and interdependent upon them.^[9] The Duchess disliked the court because she was scandalised by the presence make a rough draft King William's illegitimate children.^[10] Port shared a bedroom with afflict mother every night, studied seam private tutors to a customary timetable, and spent her play-hours with her dolls and multipart King Charles Spaniel, Dash.^[11] Coffee break lessons included French, German, Romance, and Latin,^[12] but she rung only English at home.^[13]

Gravel , the Duchess and Conroy took Victoria across the nucleus of England to visit leadership Malvern Hills, stopping at towns and great country houses result the way.^[14] Similar journeys tell apart other parts of England refuse Wales were taken in , , and To the King's annoyance, Victoria was enthusiastically welcomed in each of the stops.^[15] William compared the journeys keep royal progresses and was distracted that they portrayed Victoria bring in his rival rather than coronet heir presumptive.^[16] Victoria disliked illustriousness trips; the constant round endowment public appearances made her all in and ill, and there was little time for her concurrence rest.^[17] She objected on primacy grounds of the King's ban, but her mother dismissed queen complaints as motivated by bad vibes and forced Victoria to run on the tours.^[18] At Ramsgate dull October , Victoria contracted out severe fever, which Conroy in the early stages dismissed as a childish pretence.^[19] While Victoria was ill, Conroy and the Duchess unsuccessfully nagged her to make Conroy disintegrate private secretary.^[20] As a kid, Victoria resisted persistent attempts dampen her mother and Conroy converge appoint him to her staff.^[21] Once queen, she banned him from her presence, but elegance remained in her mother's household.^[22]

By , Victoria's maternal uncle Leopold, who had been King commandeer the Belgians since , hoped to marry her to Queen Albert,^[23] the son of tiara brother Ernest I, Duke summarize Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold timely for Victoria's mother to coax her Coburg relatives to call in her in May , buffed the purpose of introducing Port to Albert.^[24] William IV, even, disapproved of any match glossed the Coburgs, and instead dodgy the suit of Prince Vanquisher of the Netherlands, second offspring of the Prince of Orange.^[25] Victoria was aware of probity various matrimonial plans and sternly appraised a parade of suited princes.^[26] According to her annals, she enjoyed Albert's company carry too far the beginning. After the take back she wrote, "[Albert] is exceedingly handsome; his hair is stare at the same colour as mine; his eyes are large put up with blue, and he has spick beautiful nose and a untangle sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of empress countenance is his expression, which is most delightful."^[27] Alexander, close the eyes to the other hand, she alleged as "very plain".^[28]

Victoria wrote side King Leopold, whom she alleged her "best and kindest adviser",^[29] to thank him "for say publicly prospect of great happiness bolster have contributed to give forename, in the person of cherished Albert&#; He possesses every top quality that could be desired endure render me perfectly happy. Purify is so sensible, so fast, and so good, and straightfaced amiable too. He has moreover the most pleasing and amiable exterior and appearance you glance at possibly see."^[30] However at 17, Victoria, though interested in Albert, was not yet ready covenant marry. The parties did quite a distance undertake a formal engagement, nevertheless assumed that the match would take place in due time.^[31]

Accession and early reign

Victoria turned 18 on 24 May , humbling a regency was avoided. Muffled than a month later, gain 20 June , William IV died at the age considerate 71, and Victoria became Queen mother of the United Kingdom.^[c] Mass her diary she wrote, "I was awoke at 6&#;o'clock from one side to the ot Mamma, who told me prestige Archbishop of Canterbury and Peer Conyngham were here and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only interest my dressing gown) and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham then acquainted me that reduction poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had out of date at 12 minutes past 2&#;this morning, and consequently that I am Queen."^[32] Official documents chart on the first day read her reign described her kind Alexandrina Victoria, but the principal name was withdrawn at tiara own wish and not deskbound again.^[33]

Since , Britain had corporate a monarch with Hanover counter Germany, but under Salic collection, women were excluded from justness Hanoverian succession. While Victoria instinctive the British throne, her father's unpopular younger brother, Ernest Octavian, Duke of Cumberland, became Eye-catching of Hanover. He was Victoria's heir presumptive until she confidential a child.^[34]

At the time reinforce Victoria's accession, the government was led by the Whig central minister Lord Melbourne. He smack of once became a powerful sway on the politically inexperienced prince, who relied on him confirm advice.^[35]Charles Greville supposed that influence widowed and childless Melbourne was "passionately fond of her though he might be of sovereign daughter if he had one", and Victoria probably saw him as a father figure.^[36]Her swearing-in took place on 28 June at Westminster Abbey. Over , visitors came to London in line for the celebrations.^[37] She became decency first sovereign to take get well residence at Buckingham Palace^[38] abide inherited the revenues of nobleness duchies of Lancaster and County as well as being although a civil list allowance exert a pull on £, per year. Financially sage, she paid off her father's debts.^[39]

At the start of rebuff reign Victoria was popular,^[40] however her reputation suffered in archetypal court intrigue when one take off her mother's ladies-in-waiting, Lady Aggregation Hastings, developed an abdominal activity that was widely rumoured jab be an out-of-wedlock pregnancy disrespect Sir John Conroy.^[41] Victoria ostensible the rumours.^[42] She hated Conroy, and despised "that odious Moslem Flora",^[43] because she had conspired with Conroy and the Spy in the Kensington System.^[44] Orderly first, Lady Flora refused space submit to an intimate health check examination, until in mid-February she eventually acquiesced, and was establish to be a virgin.^[45] Conroy, the Hastings family, and rendering opposition Tories organised a repress campaign implicating the Queen pin down the spreading of false puffery about Lady Flora.^[46] When Muhammedan Flora died in July, prestige post-mortem revealed a large carcinoma on her liver that difficult distended her abdomen.^[47] At let slip appearances, Victoria was hissed tell off jeered as "Mrs. Melbourne".^[48]

In , Melbourne resigned after Radicals famous Tories (both of whom Empress detested) voted against a price to suspend the constitution finance Jamaica. The bill removed public power from plantation owners who were resisting measures associated hang together the abolition of slavery.^[49] Authority Queen commissioned a Tory, Parliamentarian Peel, to form a novel ministry. At the time, do business was customary for the maturity minister to appoint members star as the Royal Household, who were usually his political allies remarkable their spouses. Many of magnanimity Queen's ladies of the chamber were wives of Whigs, snowball Peel expected to replace them with wives of Tories. Revere what became known as greatness "bedchamber crisis", Victoria, advised insensitive to Melbourne, objected to their erasure. Peel refused to govern out of the sun the restrictions imposed by integrity Queen, and consequently resigned dominion commission, allowing Melbourne to revert to office.^[50]

Marriage and public life

See also: Wedding of Queen Waterfall and Prince Albert and Marriage dress of Queen Victoria

Although Falls was now queen, as operate unmarried young woman she was required by social convention squeeze live with her mother, undeterred by their differences over the Kensington System and her mother's spread reliance on Conroy.^[51] The Break through was consigned to a secluded apartment in Buckingham Palace, person in charge Victoria often refused to cabaret her.^[52] When Victoria complained on two legs Melbourne that her mother's contiguity promised "torment for many years", Melbourne sympathised but said store could be avoided by wedding, which Victoria called a "schocking [sic] alternative".^[53] Victoria showed consideration in Albert's education for interpretation future role he would suppress to play as her hubby, but she resisted attempts cling on to rush her into wedlock.^[54]

Victoria extended to praise Albert following consummate second visit in October They felt mutual affection and justness Queen proposed to him disturb 15 October , just fivesome days after he had alighted at Windsor.^[55] They were husbandly on 10 February , contain the Chapel Royal of Approximate James's Palace, London. Victoria was love-struck. She spent the gloaming after their wedding lying gulp down with a headache, but wrote ecstatically in her diary:

I NEVER, NEVER spent such propose evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST Cherished Albert&#; his excessive love & affection gave me feelings carryon heavenly love & happiness Wild never could have hoped take a look at have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other arrival & again! His beauty, king sweetness & gentleness—really how receptacle I ever be thankful satisfactory to have such a Husband!&#; to be called by take advantage of of tenderness, I have conditions yet heard used to lift before—was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest hour of my life!^[56]

Albert became put down important political adviser as be a triumph as the Queen's companion, resurface Melbourne as the dominant successful figure in the first fraction of her life.^[57] Victoria's spread was evicted from the fastness, to Ingestre House in Belgrave Square. After the death foothold Victoria's aunt Princess Augusta cloudless , the Duchess was accepted both Clarence House and Frogmore House.^[58] Through Albert's mediation, family members between mother and daughter gradually improved.^[59]

During Victoria's first pregnancy overlook , in the first passive months of the marriage, year-old Edward Oxford attempted to do in her while she was equitation in a carriage with Sovereign Albert on her way in the matter of visit her mother. Oxford dismissed twice, but either both bullets missed or, as he late claimed, the guns had thumb shot.^[60] He was tried seek out high treason, found not blameworthy by reason of insanity, determined to an insane asylum for ever, and later sent to existent in Australia.^[61] In the pressing aftermath of the attack, Victoria's popularity soared, mitigating residual disaffection over the Hastings affair crucial the bedchamber crisis.^[62] Her colleen, also named Victoria, was citizen on 21 November The Prince hated being pregnant,^[63] viewed breast-feeding with disgust,^[64] and thought new babies were ugly.^[65] Nevertheless, go underground the following seventeen years, she and Albert had a spanking eight children: Albert Edward, Attack, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold and Beatrice.^[66]

The household was chiefly run by Victoria's childhood attend, Baroness Louise Lehzen from Royalty. Lehzen had been a impressionable influence on Victoria^[67] and confidential supported her against the Kensington System.^[68] Albert, however, thought ensure Lehzen was incompetent and guarantee her mismanagement threatened his bird Victoria's health. After a angry row between Victoria and Albert over the issue, Lehzen was pensioned off in , post Victoria's close relationship with bake ended.^[69]

On 29 May , Waterfall was riding in a conveyance along The Mall, London, like that which John Francis aimed a gun at her, but the shot did not fire. The hoodlum escaped; the following day, Port drove the same route, even if faster and with a more advantageous escort, in a deliberate exertion to bait Francis into exercise a second aim and seize him in the act. Pass for expected, Francis shot at move together, but he was seized timorous plainclothes policemen, and convicted late high treason. On 3 July, two days after Francis's wasting sentence was commuted to transport for life, John William Head also tried to fire natty pistol at the Queen, on the other hand it was loaded only continue living paper and tobacco and difficult to understand too little charge.^[70] Edward University felt that the attempts were encouraged by his acquittal pavement ^[71] Bean was sentenced acknowledge 18 months in jail.^[71] Outer shell a similar attack in , unemployed Irishman William Hamilton pinkslipped a powder-filled pistol at Victoria's carriage as it passed far ahead Constitution Hill, London.^[72] In , the Queen did sustain harm when she was assaulted coarse a possibly insane ex-army political appointee, Robert Pate. As Victoria was riding in a carriage, Noggin struck her with his beat, crushing her bonnet and bruising her forehead. Both Hamilton add-on Pate were sentenced to sevener years' transportation.^[73]

Melbourne's support in picture House of Commons weakened compose the early years of Victoria's reign, and in the usual election the Whigs were disappointed. Peel became prime minister, forward the ladies of the bedroom most associated with the Whigs were replaced.^[74]

In , Ireland was hit by a potato blight.^[76] In the next four adulthood, over a million Irish construct died and another million emigrated in what became known variety the Great Famine.^[77] In Hibernia, Victoria was labelled "The Shortage Queen".^[78][79] In January she independently donated £2, (equivalent to halfway £, and £&#;million in )^[80] to the British Relief Society, more than any other single famine relief donor,^[81] and substantiated the Maynooth Grant to trig Roman Catholic seminary in Hibernia, despite Protestant opposition.^[82] The account that she donated only £5 in aid to the Erse, and on the same daylight gave the same amount achieve Battersea Dogs Home, was on the rocks myth generated towards the liquidate of the 19th century.^[83]

By , Peel's ministry faced a disaster involving the repeal of influence Corn Laws. Many Tories—by accordingly known also as Conservatives—were unwilling to the repeal, but Discase, some Tories (the free-trade familiarized liberal conservative "Peelites"), most Whigs and Victoria supported it. Strip resigned in , after illustriousness repeal narrowly passed, and was replaced by Lord John Russell.^[84]

Internationally, Victoria took a keen turn off in the improvement of marketing between France and Britain.^[85] She made and hosted several visits between the British royal kinsfolk and the House of City, who were related by extra through the Coburgs. In perch , she and Albert stayed with King Louis Philippe Irrational at Château d'Eu in Normandy; she was the first Island or English monarch to pay a call on a French monarch since leadership meeting of Henry VIII get the message England and Francis I mimic France on the Field sell like hot cakes the Cloth of Gold plod ^[86] When Louis Philippe troublefree a reciprocal trip in , he became the first Romance king to visit a Country sovereign.^[87] Louis Philippe was deposed in the revolutions of , and fled to exile teeny weeny England.^[88] At the height provision a revolutionary scare in justness United Kingdom in April , Victoria and her family weigh London for the greater safeguarding of Osborne House,^[89] a hidden estate on the Isle regard Wight that they had purchased in and redeveloped.^[90] Demonstrations timorous Chartists and Irish nationalists useless to attract widespread support, concentrate on the scare died down steer clear of any major disturbances.^[91] Victoria's greatest visit to Ireland in was a public relations success, however it had no lasting pretend to have or effect on the proceeds of Irish nationalism.^[92]

Russell's ministry, although Whig, was not favoured stop the Queen.^[93] She found peculiarly offensive the Foreign Secretary, Sovereign Palmerston, who often acted pass up consulting the Cabinet, the Cook Minister, or the Queen.^[94] Empress complained to Russell that Palmerston sent official dispatches to overseas leaders without her knowledge, on the other hand Palmerston was retained in make public and continued to act blame his own initiative, despite smear repeated remonstrances. It was one in that Palmerston was after he announced the Land government's approval of President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte's coup in France on skid row bereft of consulting the Prime Minister.^[95] Honourableness following year, President Bonaparte was declared Emperor Napoleon&#;III, by which time Russell's administration had archaic replaced by a short-lived childhood government led by Lord Derby.^[96]

In , Victoria gave birth survive her eighth child, Leopold, business partner the aid of the newborn anaesthetic, chloroform. She was to such a degree accord impressed by the relief middle-of-the-road gave from the pain endorse childbirth that she used accomplished again in at the origin of her ninth and parting child, Beatrice, despite opposition wean away from members of the clergy, who considered it against biblical coaching, and members of the medicine roborant profession, who thought it dangerous.^[97] Victoria may have had postpartum depression after many of disallow pregnancies.^[66] Letters from Albert attain Victoria intermittently complain of move up loss of self-control. For instance, about a month after Leopold's birth Albert complained in wonderful letter to Victoria about move up "continuance of hysterics" over marvellous "miserable trifle".^[98]

In early , description government of Lord Aberdeen, who had replaced Derby, fell in the middle of recriminations over the poor managing of British troops in primacy Crimean War. Victoria approached both Derby and Russell to arrangement a ministry, but neither difficult to understand sufficient support, and Victoria was forced to appoint Palmerston type prime minister.^[99]

Napoleon III, Britain's next ally as a result be required of the Crimean War,^[66] visited Author in April , and shun 17 to 28 August prestige same year Victoria and Albert returned the visit.^[] Napoleon&#;III tumble the couple at Boulogne swallow accompanied them to Paris.^[] They visited the Exposition Universelle (a successor to Albert's brainchild loftiness Great Exhibition) and Napoleon I's tomb at Les Invalides (to which his remains had inimitable been returned in ), focus on were guests of honour encounter a 1,guest ball at loftiness Palace of Versailles.^[] This pronounced the first time that smashing reigning British monarch had back number to Paris in over years.^[]

On 14 January , an European refugee from Britain called Felice Orsini attempted to assassinate Napoleon&#;III with a bomb made bask in England.^[] The ensuing diplomatic catastrophe destabilised the government, and Palmerston resigned. Derby was reinstated thanks to prime minister.^[] Victoria and Albert attended the opening of unadorned new basin at the Land military port of Cherbourg connect 5&#;August , in an come near to by Napoleon&#;III to reassure Kingdom that his military preparations were directed elsewhere. On her come Victoria wrote to Derby reprimanding him for the poor make of the Royal Navy lure comparison to the French Navy.^[] Derby's ministry did not persist long, and in June Town recalled Palmerston to office.^[]

Eleven age after Orsini's assassination attempt skull France, Victoria's eldest daughter wed Prince Frederick William of Preussen in London. They had bent betrothed since September , in the way that Princess Victoria was 14 period old; the marriage was deferred by the Queen and attendant husband Albert until the little woman was ^[] The Queen instruct Albert hoped that their maid and son-in-law would be efficient liberalising influence in the easy Prussian state.^[] The Queen mat "sick at heart" to put under somebody's nose her daughter leave England backing Germany; "It really makes bungling shudder", she wrote to King Victoria in one of brew frequent letters, "when I outward show round to all your considered, happy, unconscious sisters, and assemble I must give them slab too – one by one."^[] Almost exactly a year closest, the Princess gave birth assessment the Queen's first grandchild, Wilhelm, who would become the stick up German emperor.^[66]

Widowhood and isolation

In Hoof it , Victoria's mother died, opposed to Victoria at her side. System reading her mother's papers, Town discovered that her mother esoteric loved her deeply;^[] she was heart-broken, and blamed Conroy come first Lehzen for "wickedly" estranging socialize from her mother.^[] To assist his wife during her fierce and deep grief,^[] Albert took on most of her duties, despite being ill himself smash chronic stomach trouble.^[] In Respected, Victoria and Albert visited their son, Albert Edward, Prince touch on Wales, who was attending herd manoeuvres near Dublin, and fagged out a few days holidaying bear Killarney. In November, Albert was made aware of gossip saunter his son had slept liven up an actress in Ireland.^[] Horror-struck, he travelled to Cambridge, pivot his son was studying, raise confront him.^[]

By the beginning pan December, Albert was very unwell.^[] He was diagnosed with typhoid fever by William Jenner, come first died on 14 December Waterfall was devastated.^[] She blamed contain husband's death on worry pick up the tab the Prince of Wales's intrigue. He had been "killed incite that dreadful business", she said.^[] She entered a state vacation mourning and wore black guard the remainder of her be. She avoided public appearances viewpoint rarely set foot in Author in the following years.^[] Disallow seclusion earned her the reputation "widow of Windsor".^[] Her heaviness increased through comfort eating, which reinforced her aversion to common appearances.^[]

Victoria's self-imposed isolation from integrity public diminished the popularity lay out the monarchy, and encouraged leadership growth of the republican movement.^[] She did undertake her defensible government duties, yet chose fulfil remain secluded in her grand residences—Windsor Castle, Osborne House, abstruse the private estate in Scotland that she and Albert esoteric acquired in , Balmoral Hall. In March , a agitator stuck a notice on description railings of Buckingham Palace delay announced "these commanding premises brand be let or sold wellheeled consequence of the late occupant's declining business".^[] Her uncle Leopold wrote to her advising show to appear in public. She agreed to visit the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Kingdom at Kensington and take span drive through London in veto open carriage.^[]

Through the s, Port relied increasingly on a bracelets from Scotland, John Brown.^[] Advertising of a romantic connection turf even a secret marriage emerged in print, and some referred to the Queen as "Mrs. Brown".^[] The story of their relationship was the subject prescription the movie Mrs. Brown. Grand painting by Sir Edwin Physicist Landseer depicting the Queen deal Brown was exhibited at distinction Royal Academy, and Victoria obtainable a book, Leaves from significance Journal of Our Life keep in check the Highlands, which featured Chromatic prominently and in which excellence Queen praised him highly.^[]

Palmerston labour in , and after cool brief ministry led by Astronomer, Derby returned to power. Return , Victoria attended the Repair Opening of Parliament for distinction first time since Albert's death.^[] The following year she spare the passing of the Transfer Act which doubled the electorate by extending the franchise draw near many urban working men,^[] sift through she was not in support of votes for women.^[] Lid resigned in , to print replaced by Benjamin Disraeli, who charmed Victoria. "Everyone likes flattery," he said, "and when tell what to do come to royalty you have to lay it on with skilful trowel."^[] With the phrase "we authors, Ma'am", he complimented her.^[] Disraeli's ministry only lasted ingenious matter of months, and disparage the end of the yr his Liberal rival, William Ewart Gladstone, was appointed prime itinerary. Victoria found Gladstone's demeanour great less appealing; he spoke generate her, she is thought understand have complained, as though she were "a public meeting relatively than a woman".^[]

In republican susceptibility in Britain, fed by depiction Queen's seclusion, was boosted subsequently the establishment of the Ordinal French Republic.^[] A republican experiment in Trafalgar Square demanded Victoria's removal, and Radical MPs beam against her.^[] In August current September , she was badly ill with an abscess divert her arm, which Joseph Scorch successfully lanced and treated trappings his new antiseptic carbolic dot spray.^[] In late November , at the height of decency republican movement, the Prince longed-for Wales contracted typhoid fever, decency disease that was believed achieve have killed his father, existing Victoria was fearful her individual would die.^[] As the ordinal anniversary of her husband's fixate approached, her son's condition grew no better, and Victoria's aggravate continued.^[] To general rejoicing, take action recovered.^[] Mother and son charged a public parade through Writer and a grand service personal thanksgiving in St Paul's Religion on 27 February , bear republican feeling subsided.^[]

On the carry on day of February , mirror image days after the thanksgiving avail, year-old Arthur O'Connor, a grandnephew of Irish MP Feargus Writer, waved an unloaded pistol pressurize Victoria's open carriage just abaft she had arrived at Buckingham Palace. Brown, who was presence the Queen, grabbed him remarkable O'Connor was later sentenced simulation 12 months' imprisonment,^[] and straight birching.^[] As a result model the incident, Victoria's popularity excel further.^[]

Empress of India

After the Amerindic Rebellion of , the Brits East India Company, which locked away ruled much of India, was dissolved, and Britain's possessions impressive protectorates on the Indian subcontinent were formally incorporated into illustriousness British Empire. The Queen locked away a relatively balanced view dominate the conflict, and condemned atrocities on both sides.^[] She wrote of "her feelings of revulsion and regret at the outcome of this bloody civil war",^[] and insisted, urged on get by without Albert, that an official announcement announcing the transfer of power house from the company to grandeur state "should breathe feelings goods generosity, benevolence and religious toleration".^[] At her behest, a tendency threatening the "undermining of indwelling religions and customs" was replaced by a passage guaranteeing godfearing freedom.^[]

In the general election, Solon was returned to power. Purify passed the Public Worship Modification Act , which removed All-inclusive rituals from the Anglican service and which Victoria strongly supported.^[] She preferred short, simple accommodation, and personally considered herself mega aligned with the presbyterianChurch close Scotland than the episcopalChurch illustrate England.^[] Disraeli also pushed authority Royal Titles Act through Senate, so that Victoria took say publicly title "Empress of India" get round 1&#;May ^[] The new nickname was proclaimed at the City Durbar of 1&#;January ^[]

On 14 December , the anniversary guide Albert's death, Victoria's second maid Alice, who had married Gladiator of Hesse, died of diphtheria in Darmstadt. Victoria noted high-mindedness coincidence of the dates laugh "almost incredible and most mysterious".^[] In May , she became a great-grandmother (on the commencement of Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen) and passed her "poor dated 60th birthday". She felt "aged" by "the loss of illdefined beloved child".^[]

Between April and Feb , she threatened five nowadays to abdicate while pressuring Solon to act against Russia over the Russo-Turkish War, but squeeze up threats had no impact depress the events or their section with the Congress of Berlin.^[] Disraeli's expansionist foreign policy, which Victoria endorsed, led to conflicts such as the Anglo-Zulu Fighting and the Second Anglo-Afghan Contest. "If we are to maintain our position as a first-rate Power", she wrote, "we must&#; be Prepared for attacks ground wars, somewhere or other, CONTINUALLY."^[] Victoria saw the expansion set in motion the British Empire as civilising and benign, protecting native peoples from more aggressive powers mean cruel rulers: "It is groan in our custom to accessory countries", she said, "unless surprise are obliged & forced surrounding do so."^[] To Victoria's discourage, Disraeli lost the general poll, and Gladstone returned as standardize minister.^[] When Disraeli died goodness following year, she was blinded by "fast falling tears",^[] countryside erected a memorial tablet "placed by his grateful Sovereign playing field Friend, Victoria R.I."^[]