It's no secret that Queen Victoria is one of my favourite monarchs in history, alongside Mary Queen of Scots. Both such fierce women in a very male dominated world.
Queen Victoria was actually born Alexandrina Victoria and took the name Victoria at her coronation in 1838 at the ripe age of 18.
Queen Victoria was the longest reigning monarch in history until our very own Queen, Queen Elizabeth II took her place.
Being the fifth in line for the throne, no one knew she would become Queen. Her grandfather was King George III, his son and heir to the throne George IV had a daughter, Princess Charlotte who unfortunately died during childbirth. Everyone panicked as to who would take the throne after King George IV. His younger brother William IV? he never produced an heir. The youngest brother Edward? He died in 1820 but he had a daughter, Princess Victoria. Queen Victoria. So upon Victoria's uncle King William IV's death, Victoria took the throne.
Tradition stops males from proposing to Queens, so Queen Victoria proposed to Prince Albert herself. Lets just add this one to the checklist for fierce historical women.
Queen Victoria was the first woman to wear white on her wedding day, kickstarting the white dress tradition. Before Victorian women wore their favourite dress, no matter the colour.
Did you know her husband, Prince Albert, was actually her first cousin? yikes. They continued to have nine children together. Victoria, Edward, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold and Beatrice.
Queen Victoria was known as the grandmother of Europe. Her nine children were married off to numerous European monarchies including Greece, Russia, Germany and Sweden. This lengthening English influence over Europe and resulted in 42 grandchildren.
Albert died in 1861 and Queen Victoria never recovered from his death. She continued to wear mourning attire, all black, until her final day. The Queen wore black for 40 years straight and this is where you see many people these days linking gothic culture with the Victorian Era.
Did you know the whole state of Queensland was named after her? Yep!
There were six assassination attempts on the Queen throughout her reign and she managed to survive and dodge them all. Including one where she was shot at while riding in her carriage.
And there you go, ten interesting facts about Queen Victoria. I could be here all day writing about her whirlwind of a life, triumphs and losses.
Tori-Anne Gill
darkthornclothing.com
