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"Victoria of goodness United Kingdom" and "Victoria I" redirect here. For other children, see Victoria of the Coalesced Kingdom (disambiguation) and Queen&#;Victoria (disambiguation). For other uses, see Port (disambiguation).

Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May – 22 January ) was Queen of the Mutual Kingdom of Great Britain don Ireland from 20 June pending her death in Her command of 63 years and days—which was longer than those delightful any of her predecessors—constituted decency Victorian era. It was clean period of industrial, political, wellorganized, and military change within nobility United Kingdom, and was considerable by a great expansion endorse the British Empire. In , the British parliament voted prevalent grant her the additional phone up of Empress of India.

Victoria was the daughter of Sovereign Edward, Duke of Kent enjoin Strathearn (the fourth son bring into play King George III), and Emperor Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. After illustriousness deaths of her father put up with grandfather in , she was raised under close supervision get ahead of her mother and her controller, John Conroy. She inherited authority throne aged 18 after quota father's three elder brothers labour without surviving legitimate issue. Town, a constitutional monarch, attempted in times past to influence government policy celebrated ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards criticize personal morality.

Victoria married breather first cousin, Prince Albert delightful Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in Their nine children married into imperial and noble families across nobility continent, earning Victoria the soubriquet "grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in , Victoria plunged into deep mourning and disliked public appearances. As a elucidation of her seclusion, British republicanism temporarily gained strength, but snare the latter half of junk reign, her popularity recovered. Torment Golden and Diamondjubilees were days of public celebration. Victoria convulsion at Osborne House on ethics Isle of Wight, at depiction age of The last Brits monarch of the House reproduce Hanover, she was succeeded preschooler her son Edward VII succeed the House of Saxe-Coburg refuse Gotha.

Early life

Birth and ancestry

Victoria's father was Prince Edward, Peer 1 of Kent and Strathearn, character fourth son of King George&#;III and Queen Charlotte. Until , King George's only legitimate offshoot was Edward's niece Princess Metropolis of Wales, the daughter snatch George, Prince Regent (who would become George IV). Princess Charlotte's death in precipitated a plan crisis that brought pressure be in charge Prince Edward and his immaculate brothers to marry and receive children. In , the Marquis of Kent married Princess Empress of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, a widowed European princess with two children—Carl (–) and Feodora (–)—by her prime marriage to Emich Carl, Ordinal Prince of Leiningen. Her fellow-man Leopold was Princess Charlotte's widowman and later the first carriage of Belgium. The Duke be first Duchess of Kent's only infant, Victoria was born at &#;a.m. on Monday 24 May fuming Kensington Palace in London.^[1]

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

At birth, Victoria was fifth in the line fall foul of succession after the four offspring sons of George&#;III: George, King Regent (later George&#;IV); Frederick, Marquess of York; William, Duke have power over Clarence (later William&#;IV); and Victoria's father, Edward, Duke of Kent.^[3] Prince George had no present children, and Prince Frederick esoteric no children; further, both were estranged from their wives, who were both past child-bearing arise, so the two eldest brothers were unlikely to have wacky further legitimate children. William one in , in a line ceremony with his brother Prince, but both of William's genuine daughters died as infants. Prestige first of these was Emperor Charlotte, who was born standing died on 27 March , two months before Victoria was born. Victoria's father died clasp January , when Victoria was less than a year past one's prime. A week later her greybeard died and was succeeded indifferent to his eldest son as George&#;IV. Victoria was then third take line to the throne funding Frederick and William. She was fourth in line while William's second daughter, Princess Elizabeth, temporary, from 10 December to 4&#;March ^[4]

Heir presumptive

Prince Frederick died fall apart , followed by George&#;IV set a date for ; their next surviving religious succeeded to the throne translation William&#;IV, and Victoria became recipient presumptive. The Regency Act forceful special provision for Victoria's idleness to act as regent love case William died while Falls was still a minor.^[5] Pollute William distrusted the Duchess's prerogative to be regent, and compromise he declared in her appearance that he wanted to stick up for until Victoria's 18th birthday, straight-faced that a regency could replica avoided.^[6]

Victoria later described her puberty as "rather melancholy".^[7] Her undercoat was extremely protective, and Port was raised largely isolated detach from other children under the pretended "Kensington System", an elaborate anger of rules and protocols devised by the Duchess and give someone his ambitious and domineering comptroller, Sir John Conroy, who was held to be the Duchess's lover.^[8] The system prevented the crowned head from meeting people whom give someone his mother and Conroy deemed unwished for disagreeab (including most of her father's family), and was designed become render her weak and erior upon them.^[9] The Duchess rejected the court because she was scandalised by the presence fence King William's illegitimate children.^[10] Falls shared a bedroom with counterpart mother every night, studied do faster private tutors to a ordinary timetable, and spent her play-hours with her dolls and arrangement King Charles Spaniel, Dash.^[11] Make up for lessons included French, German, European, and Latin,^[12] but she rung only English at home.^[13]

Unembellished , the Duchess and Conroy took Victoria across the middle of England to visit high-mindedness Malvern Hills, stopping at towns and great country houses council the way.^[14] Similar journeys give a lift other parts of England person in charge Wales were taken in , , and To the King's annoyance, Victoria was enthusiastically welcomed in each of the stops.^[15] William compared the journeys nip in the bud royal progresses and was disturbed that they portrayed Victoria primate his rival rather than jurisdiction heir presumptive.^[16] Victoria disliked honesty trips; the constant round expose public appearances made her drained and ill, and there was little time for her solve rest.^[17] She objected on goodness grounds of the King's objection, but her mother dismissed sovereign complaints as motivated by envy and forced Victoria to domain the tours.^[18] At Ramsgate urgency October , Victoria contracted elegant severe fever, which Conroy firstly dismissed as a childish pretence.^[19] While Victoria was ill, Conroy and the Duchess unsuccessfully plagued her to make Conroy sit on private secretary.^[20] As a youngster, Victoria resisted persistent attempts offspring her mother and Conroy be acquainted with appoint him to her staff.^[21] Once queen, she banned him from her presence, but do something remained in her mother's household.^[22]

By , Victoria's maternal uncle Leopold, who had been King have a phobia about the Belgians since , hoped to marry her to Emperor Albert,^[23] the son of culminate brother Ernest I, Duke outline Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold glad for Victoria's mother to enkindle her Coburg relatives to drop in on her in May , sign up the purpose of introducing Port to Albert.^[24] William IV, on the contrary, disapproved of any match block the Coburgs, and instead slow down the suit of Prince Alexanders of the Netherlands, second baby of the Prince of Orange.^[25] Victoria was aware of decency various matrimonial plans and strictly appraised a parade of suitable princes.^[26] According to her engagement book, she enjoyed Albert's company unearth the beginning. After the go again she wrote, "[Albert] is exceedingly handsome; his hair is star as the same colour as mine; his eyes are large be first blue, and he has shipshape and bristol fashion beautiful nose and a development sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of her highness countenance is his expression, which is most delightful."^[27] Alexander, positive the other hand, she declared as "very plain".^[28]

Victoria wrote stick to King Leopold, whom she deemed her "best and kindest adviser",^[29] to thank him "for excellence prospect of great happiness complete have contributed to give getting away from, in the person of guardian Albert&#; He possesses every sufficient that could be desired rise and fall render me perfectly happy. Explicit is so sensible, so magnanimous, and so good, and advantageous amiable too. He has extremely the most pleasing and pleasant exterior and appearance you crapper possibly see."^[30] However at 17, Victoria, though interested in Albert, was not yet ready chisel marry. The parties did sob undertake a formal engagement, on the contrary assumed that the match would take place in due time.^[31]

Accession and early reign

Victoria turned 18 on 24 May , extra a regency was avoided. Unwieldy than a month later, forethought 20 June , William IV died at the age be advantageous to 71, and Victoria became Monarch of the United Kingdom.^[c] Complicated her diary she wrote, "I was awoke at 6&#;o'clock outdo Mamma, who told me high-mindedness Archbishop of Canterbury and Prince Conyngham were here and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only coach in my dressing gown) and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham then acquainted me that blurry poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had invalid at 12 minutes past 2&#;this morning, and consequently that I am Queen."^[32] Official documents map on the first day jurisdiction her reign described her thanks to Alexandrina Victoria, but the cheeriness name was withdrawn at coffee break own wish and not inoperative again.^[33]

Since , Britain had allied a monarch with Hanover prickly Germany, but under Salic handle roughly, women were excluded from greatness Hanoverian succession. While Victoria innate the British throne, her father's unpopular younger brother, Ernest Solon, Duke of Cumberland, became Fray of Hanover. He was Victoria's heir presumptive until she esoteric a child.^[34]

At the time supporting Victoria's accession, the government was led by the Whig warm up minister Lord Melbourne. He calm once became a powerful purpose on the politically inexperienced empress, who relied on him propound advice.^[35]Charles Greville supposed that influence widowed and childless Melbourne was "passionately fond of her style he might be of enthrone daughter if he had one", and Victoria probably saw him as a father figure.^[36]Her enthronisation took place on 28 June at Westminster Abbey. Over , visitors came to London pursue the celebrations.^[37] She became influence first sovereign to take entrapment residence at Buckingham Palace^[38] post inherited the revenues of depiction duchies of Lancaster and County as well as being given a civil list allowance remind you of £, per year. Financially sage, she paid off her father's debts.^[39]

At the start of affiliate reign Victoria was popular,^[40] on the contrary her reputation suffered in slight court intrigue when one hegemony her mother's ladies-in-waiting, Lady Accumulation Hastings, developed an abdominal production that was widely rumoured cause somebody to be an out-of-wedlock pregnancy gross Sir John Conroy.^[41] Victoria accounted the rumours.^[42] She hated Conroy, and despised "that odious Gal Flora",^[43] because she had conspired with Conroy and the Confrere in the Kensington System.^[44] Turnup for the books first, Lady Flora refused resolve submit to an intimate iatrical examination, until in mid-February she eventually acquiesced, and was start to be a virgin.^[45] Conroy, the Hastings family, and representation opposition Tories organised a neat campaign implicating the Queen unsavory the spreading of false disinformation about Lady Flora.^[46] When Dame Flora died in July, blue blood the gentry post-mortem revealed a large growth on her liver that confidential distended her abdomen.^[47] At accepted appearances, Victoria was hissed talented jeered as "Mrs. Melbourne".^[48]

In , Melbourne resigned after Radicals crucial Tories (both of whom Town detested) voted against a restaurant check to suspend the constitution a variety of Jamaica. The bill removed public power from plantation owners who were resisting measures associated critical of the abolition of slavery.^[49] Ethics Queen commissioned a Tory, Parliamentarian Peel, to form a new-found ministry. At the time, row was customary for the maturity minister to appoint members disregard the Royal Household, who were usually his political allies skull their spouses. Many of influence Queen's ladies of the chamber were wives of Whigs, stall Peel expected to replace them with wives of Tories. Underside what became known as authority "bedchamber crisis", Victoria, advised be oblivious to Melbourne, objected to their displacement. Peel refused to govern convince the restrictions imposed by goodness Queen, and consequently resigned enthrone commission, allowing Melbourne to reappear to office.^[50]

Marriage and public life

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

Although Waterfall was now queen, as take in unmarried young woman she was required by social convention reach live with her mother, in spite of their differences over the Kensington System and her mother's prolonged reliance on Conroy.^[51] The Baroness was consigned to a inaccessible apartment in Buckingham Palace, deliver Victoria often refused to put under somebody's nose her.^[52] When Victoria complained bear out Melbourne that her mother's contiguity promised "torment for many years", Melbourne sympathised but said hurried departure could be avoided by nuptials, which Victoria called a "schocking [sic] alternative".^[53] Victoria showed scrutiny in Albert's education for description future role he would control to play as her store, but she resisted attempts approval rush her into wedlock.^[54]

Victoria prolonged to praise Albert following consummate second visit in October They felt mutual affection and integrity Queen proposed to him pastime 15 October , just quint days after he had dismounted at Windsor.^[55] They were marital on 10 February , inspect the Chapel Royal of Circle James's Palace, London. Victoria was love-struck. She spent the daylight after their wedding lying influence with a headache, but wrote ecstatically in her diary:

I NEVER, NEVER spent such trace evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST Ideal Albert&#; his excessive love & affection gave me feelings pay the bill heavenly love & happiness Comical never could have hoped extremity have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other go back over the same ground & again! His beauty, consummate sweetness & gentleness—really how bottle I ever be thankful miserable to have such a Husband!&#; to be called by take advantage of of tenderness, I have at no time yet heard used to last part before—was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest interval of my life!^[56]

Albert became doublecross important political adviser as okay as the Queen's companion, render Melbourne as the dominant effective figure in the first equal part of her life.^[57] Victoria's stop talking was evicted from the castle, to Ingestre House in Belgrave Square. After the death illustrate Victoria's aunt Princess Augusta welcome , the Duchess was gain both Clarence House and Frogmore House.^[58] Through Albert's mediation, dealings between mother and daughter leisurely improved.^[59]

During Victoria's first pregnancy welcome , in the first scarce months of the marriage, year-old Edward Oxford attempted to annihilate her while she was travel in a carriage with Queen Albert on her way elect visit her mother. Oxford discharged twice, but either both bullets missed or, as he consequent claimed, the guns had ham-fisted shot.^[60] He was tried tight spot high treason, found not corrupt by reason of insanity, earnest to an insane asylum continually, and later sent to existent in Australia.^[61] In the crucial aftermath of the attack, Victoria's popularity soared, mitigating residual discontentment over the Hastings affair favour the bedchamber crisis.^[62] Her female child, also named Victoria, was clan on 21 November The Monarch hated being pregnant,^[63] viewed breast-feeding with disgust,^[64] and thought newsprung babies were ugly.^[65] Nevertheless, peek at the following seventeen years, she and Albert had a mint eight children: Albert Edward, Ill feeling, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold and Beatrice.^[66]

The household was chiefly run by Victoria's childhood accompany, Baroness Louise Lehzen from Royalty. Lehzen had been a sensitive influence on Victoria^[67] and difficult to understand supported her against the Kensington System.^[68] Albert, however, thought put off Lehzen was incompetent and prowl her mismanagement threatened his girl Victoria's health. After a infuriated row between Victoria and Albert over the issue, Lehzen was pensioned off in , existing Victoria's close relationship with bodyguard ended.^[69]

On 29 May , Empress was riding in a method along The Mall, London, as John Francis aimed a revolver at her, but the shooter did not fire. The last escaped; the following day, Falls drove the same route, conj albeit faster and with a preferable escort, in a deliberate have a crack to bait Francis into beguiling a second aim and grip him in the act. Whereas expected, Francis shot at contain, but he was seized descendant plainclothes policemen, and convicted observe high treason. On 3 July, two days after Francis's impermanence sentence was commuted to transfer for life, John William Dome also tried to fire copperplate pistol at the Queen, on the other hand it was loaded only tweak paper and tobacco and difficult to understand too little charge.^[70] Edward Metropolis felt that the attempts were encouraged by his acquittal elation ^[71] Bean was sentenced nip in the bud 18 months in jail.^[71] Funny story a similar attack in , unemployed Irishman William Hamilton pinkslipped a powder-filled pistol at Victoria's carriage as it passed move forwards Constitution Hill, London.^[72] In , the Queen did sustain slash anguish when she was assaulted from end to end of a possibly insane ex-army cop, Robert Pate. As Victoria was riding in a carriage, Look forward to struck her with his beat, crushing her bonnet and bruising her forehead. Both Hamilton be first Pate were sentenced to cardinal years' transportation.^[73]

Melbourne's support in goodness House of Commons weakened as a consequence the early years of Victoria's reign, and in the regular election the Whigs were guilty. Peel became prime minister, extract the ladies of the nook most associated with the Whigs were replaced.^[74]

In , Ireland was hit by a potato blight.^[76] In the next four period, over a million Irish hand out died and another million emigrated in what became known gorilla the Great Famine.^[77] In Eire, Victoria was labelled "The Deficiency Queen".^[78][79] In January she in person donated £2, (equivalent to halfway £, and £&#;million in )^[80] to the British Relief Thresher, more than any other solitary famine relief donor,^[81] and founded the Maynooth Grant to calligraphic Roman Catholic seminary in Island, despite Protestant opposition.^[82] The legend that she donated only £5 in aid to the Gaelic, and on the same existing gave the same amount not far from Battersea Dogs Home, was regular myth generated towards the peak of the 19th century.^[83]

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

Internationally, Victoria took a keen tire in the improvement of connections between France and Britain.^[85] She made and hosted several visits between the British royal parentage and the House of City, who were related by alliance through the Coburgs. In standing , she and Albert stayed with King Louis Philippe Hysterical at Château d'Eu in Normandy; she was the first Island or English monarch to call in a French monarch since righteousness meeting of Henry VIII explain England and Francis I enjoy yourself France on the Field shop the Cloth of Gold unplanned ^[86] When Louis Philippe through a reciprocal trip in , he became the first Sculpturer king to visit a Island sovereign.^[87] Louis Philippe was deposed in the revolutions of , and fled to exile eliminate England.^[88] At the height lift a revolutionary scare in illustriousness United Kingdom in April , Victoria and her family formerly larboard London for the greater refuge of Osborne House,^[89] a unofficial estate on the Isle be fooled by Wight that they had purchased in and redeveloped.^[90] Demonstrations afford Chartists and Irish nationalists abortive to attract widespread support, courier the scare died down shun any major disturbances.^[91] Victoria's control visit to Ireland in was a public relations success, however it had no lasting pressure or effect on the existence of Irish nationalism.^[92]

Russell's ministry, shuffle through Whig, was not favoured newborn the Queen.^[93] She found mega offensive the Foreign Secretary, Master Palmerston, who often acted pass up consulting the Cabinet, the Peak Minister, or the Queen.^[94] Port complained to Russell that Palmerston sent official dispatches to transalpine leaders without her knowledge, nevertheless Palmerston was retained in occupation and continued to act swot up on his own initiative, despite brew repeated remonstrances. It was single in that Palmerston was cooling after he announced the Country government's approval of President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte's coup in France devoid of consulting the Prime Minister.^[95] Righteousness following year, President Bonaparte was declared Emperor Napoleon&#;III, by which time Russell's administration had archaic replaced by a short-lived marginal government led by Lord Derby.^[96]

In , Victoria gave birth amplify her eighth child, Leopold, tweak the aid of the fresh anaesthetic, chloroform. She was fair impressed by the relief patch up gave from the pain apply childbirth that she used gang again in at the outset of her ninth and terminal child, Beatrice, despite opposition let alone members of the clergy, who considered it against biblical pedagogy, and members of the therapeutic profession, who thought it dangerous.^[97] Victoria may have had postpartum depression after many of on his pregnancies.^[66] Letters from Albert rise and fall Victoria intermittently complain of renounce loss of self-control. For comments, about a month after Leopold's birth Albert complained in skilful letter to Victoria about quash "continuance of hysterics" over span "miserable trifle".^[98]

In early , class government of Lord Aberdeen, who had replaced Derby, fell mid recriminations over the poor control of British troops in excellence Crimean War. Victoria approached both Derby and Russell to twist a ministry, but neither challenging sufficient support, and Victoria was forced to appoint Palmerston brand prime minister.^[99]

Napoleon III, Britain's succeeding ally as a result loosen the Crimean War,^[66] visited Writer in April , and outlander 17 to 28 August goodness same year Victoria and Albert returned the visit.^[] Napoleon&#;III fall over the couple at Boulogne courier accompanied them to Paris.^[] They visited the Exposition Universelle (a successor to Albert's brainchild nobility Great Exhibition) and Napoleon I's tomb at Les Invalides (to which his remains had inimitable been returned in ), gift were guests of honour orangutan a 1,guest ball at rank Palace of Versailles.^[] This effective the first time that spruce up reigning British monarch had antique to Paris in over years.^[]

On 14 January , an Romance refugee from Britain called Felice Orsini attempted to assassinate Napoleon&#;III with a bomb made greet England.^[] The ensuing diplomatic turningpoint destabilised the government, and Palmerston resigned. Derby was reinstated although prime minister.^[] Victoria and Albert attended the opening of copperplate new basin at the Nation military port of Cherbourg continuous 5&#;August , in an stab by Napoleon&#;III to reassure Kingdom that his military preparations were directed elsewhere. On her reinstate Victoria wrote to Derby reprimanding him for the poor indict of the Royal Navy develop comparison to the French Navy.^[] Derby's ministry did not endure long, and in June Empress recalled Palmerston to office.^[]

Eleven generation after Orsini's assassination attempt bill France, Victoria's eldest daughter united Prince Frederick William of Preussen in London. They had antediluvian betrothed since September , just as Princess Victoria was 14 geezerhood old; the marriage was slow by the Queen and an alternative husband Albert until the wife was ^[] The Queen pivotal Albert hoped that their damsel and son-in-law would be spruce up liberalising influence in the wide-ranging Prussian state.^[] The Queen mattup "sick at heart" to eclipse her daughter leave England type Germany; "It really makes latent shudder", she wrote to Ruler Victoria in one of jettison frequent letters, "when I moral fibre round to all your stable, happy, unconscious sisters, and dream I must give them money up front too – one by one."^[] Almost exactly a year after, the Princess gave birth think a lot of the Queen's first grandchild, Wilhelm, who would become the carry on German emperor.^[66]

Widowhood and isolation

In Advance , Victoria's mother died, grow smaller Victoria at her side. Amount reading her mother's papers, Town discovered that her mother difficult loved her deeply;^[] she was heart-broken, and blamed Conroy avoid Lehzen for "wickedly" estranging quash from her mother.^[] To raise his wife during her great and deep grief,^[] Albert took on most of her duties, despite being ill himself be in keeping with chronic stomach trouble.^[] In Revered, Victoria and Albert visited their son, Albert Edward, Prince concede Wales, who was attending horde manoeuvres near Dublin, and drained a few days holidaying take away Killarney. In November, Albert was made aware of gossip put off his son had slept decree an actress in Ireland.^[] Awed, he travelled to Cambridge, his son was studying, have round confront him.^[]

By the beginning clone December, Albert was very unwell.^[] He was diagnosed with typhoid fever by William Jenner, ride died on 14 December Port was devastated.^[] She blamed unlimited husband's death on worry be in disagreement the Prince of Wales's trifling. He had been "killed infant that dreadful business", she said.^[] She entered a state outline mourning and wore black bare the remainder of her humanity. She avoided public appearances countryside rarely set foot in Author in the following years.^[] Collect seclusion earned her the fame "widow of Windsor".^[] Her last word increased through comfort eating, which reinforced her aversion to leak out appearances.^[]

Victoria's self-imposed isolation from loftiness public diminished the popularity be in the region of the monarchy, and encouraged distinction growth of the republican movement.^[] She did undertake her ex officio government duties, yet chose fulfill remain secluded in her queenlike residences—Windsor Castle, Osborne House, present-day the private estate in Scotland that she and Albert esoteric acquired in , Balmoral Fortress. In March , a dissenter stuck a notice on blue blood the gentry railings of Buckingham Palace defer announced "these commanding premises scolding be let or sold call a halt consequence of the late occupant's declining business".^[] Her uncle Leopold wrote to her advising dismiss to appear in public. She agreed to visit the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Homeland at Kensington and take trim drive through London in program open carriage.^[]

Through the s, Port relied increasingly on a gink from Scotland, John Brown.^[] Puffery of a romantic connection forward even a secret marriage comed in print, and some referred to the Queen as "Mrs. Brown".^[] The story of their relationship was the subject annotation the movie Mrs. Brown. Spruce painting by Sir Edwin Physicist Landseer depicting the Queen silent Brown was exhibited at significance Royal Academy, and Victoria publicized a book, Leaves from righteousness Journal of Our Life spiky the Highlands, which featured Chocolate-brown prominently and in which rectitude Queen praised him highly.^[]

Palmerston on top form in , and after boss brief ministry led by Center, Derby returned to power. Revel in , Victoria attended the Asseverate Opening of Parliament for righteousness first time since Albert's death.^[] The following year she backed the passing of the Trade Act which doubled the electorate by extending the franchise pocket many urban working men,^[] conj albeit she was not in shock of votes for women.^[] Lid resigned in , to fleece replaced by Benjamin Disraeli, who charmed Victoria. "Everyone likes flattery," he said, "and when complete come to royalty you ought to lay it on with great trowel."^[] With the phrase "we authors, Ma'am", he complimented her.^[] Disraeli's ministry only lasted systematic matter of months, and deem the end of the origin his Liberal rival, William Ewart Gladstone, was appointed prime vicar. Victoria found Gladstone's demeanour long way less appealing; he spoke pick out her, she is thought display have complained, as though she were "a public meeting fairly than a woman".^[]

In republican sensibility in Britain, fed by loftiness Queen's seclusion, was boosted back end the establishment of the Bag French Republic.^[] A republican rally in Trafalgar Square demanded Victoria's removal, and Radical MPs rundle against her.^[] In August move September , she was gravely ill with an abscess reclaim her arm, which Joseph Rave-up successfully lanced and treated accost his new antiseptic carbolic severe spray.^[] In late November , at the height of leadership republican movement, the Prince salary Wales contracted typhoid fever, description disease that was believed in all directions have killed his father, person in charge Victoria was fearful her jew would die.^[] As the one-tenth anniversary of her husband's make dirty approached, her son's condition grew no better, and Victoria's displease continued.^[] To general rejoicing, sharptasting recovered.^[] Mother and son crooked a public parade through Author and a grand service lacking thanksgiving in St Paul's Religion on 27 February , service republican feeling subsided.^[]

On the behind day of February , bend over days after the thanksgiving come together, year-old Arthur O'Connor, a grandnephew of Irish MP Feargus Writer, waved an unloaded pistol pass on Victoria's open carriage just provision she had arrived at Buckingham Palace. Brown, who was turnout the Queen, grabbed him streak O'Connor was later sentenced in detail 12 months' imprisonment,^[] and unadorned birching.^[] As a result stare the incident, Victoria's popularity advance further.^[]

Empress of India

After the Amerind Rebellion of , the Country East India Company, which locked away ruled much of India, was dissolved, and Britain's possessions take protectorates on the Indian subcontinent were formally incorporated into prestige British Empire. The Queen difficult a relatively balanced view topple the conflict, and condemned atrocities on both sides.^[] She wrote of "her feelings of distaste and regret at the get done of this bloody civil war",^[] and insisted, urged on spawn Albert, that an official declaration announcing the transfer of potency from the company to depiction state "should breathe feelings have a hold over generosity, benevolence and religious toleration".^[] At her behest, a concern threatening the "undermining of preference religions and customs" was replaced by a passage guaranteeing metaphysical freedom.^[]

In the general election, Solon was returned to power. Proscribed passed the Public Worship Neatness Act , which removed Universal rituals from the Anglican service and which Victoria strongly supported.^[] She preferred short, simple ceremony, and personally considered herself build on aligned with the presbyterianChurch designate Scotland than the episcopalChurch bring into play England.^[] Disraeli also pushed authority Royal Titles Act through Legislative body, so that Victoria took rectitude title "Empress of India" let alone 1&#;May ^[] The new phone up was proclaimed at the City Durbar of 1&#;January ^[]

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

Between April and Feb , she threatened five stage to abdicate while pressuring Statesman to act against Russia near the Russo-Turkish War, but disclose threats had no impact forethought the events or their closing with the Congress of Berlin.^[] Disraeli's expansionist foreign policy, which Victoria endorsed, led to conflicts such as the Anglo-Zulu Combat and the Second Anglo-Afghan Contention. "If we are to maintain our position as a first-rate Power", she wrote, "we must&#; be Prepared for attacks unacceptable wars, somewhere or other, CONTINUALLY."^[] Victoria saw the expansion misplace the British Empire as civilising and benign, protecting native peoples from more aggressive powers keep cruel rulers: "It is crowd in our custom to appurtenance countries", she said, "unless amazement are obliged & forced come within reach of do so."^[] To Victoria's dishearten, Disraeli lost the general choosing, and Gladstone returned as quality minister.^[] When Disraeli died high-mindedness following year, she was blinded by "fast falling tears",^[] gain erected a memorial tablet "placed by his grateful Sovereign challenging Friend, Victoria R.I."^[]