queen victoria end of term

Abdul Karim

The Queen’s teacher. He obtained the title Munshi from Victoria so he could stay in her household. He taught her about the Indian culture and also the Hindustani language in which the Queen was interested. They shared a close bond, the queen described him as intelligent. He was even allowed to visit the queen’s deathbed without supervision

Baroness Lehzen

The Queen’s German governess who raised her under the Kensington system. She and the queen shared a close bond, Victoria even attributed all her good qualities to Lehzen. Lehzen and Albert disliked each other and Albert wished to remove her from the royal household. Others also got suspicious as Lehzen still had access to the Queen’s private finances. She eventually retired and went to live with her sister in Germany, receiving a generous pension.

Benjamin Disraeli

A prime minister of Great Britain whose Conservative Party won the election of 1841. The result of his foreign policies was that Queen Victoria became empress of India in 1876. Queen Victoria was quite fond of him and was desperate when Gladstone won the election and replaced him

Bertie

The eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. His troublesome behaviour caused worry to his mother. She even attributed his behaviour as one of the causes of Prince Albert’s death. Despite her worries, he managed to strengthen ties with Europe and the middle class thrived during his reign. His ascension to the throne marked the end of the Victorian era and the start of the Edwardian age.

British Centruy

Also defined by the term Pax Britannica. In the 19th century, Britain became the leading nation under Queen Victoria’s reign. During this time, the country was defined by prosperity, but serious tension was developing under the surface. This era lasted until the stock exchange crash in 1873 which led to recession. After the recession the USA and Germany became the leading nations.

Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace gave home to the Great Exhibition in 1851. After indepth consideration, it was decided that the Crystal Palace should be built in Hyde Park, much to the dismay of those who lived near. Many people expressed worry about the Palace’s glass material. However, safety measures were carried out and the Palace proved to be sturdy enough. The Queen called it on of the world’s wonders.

Golden Jubilee

In 1887 the Queen celebrated her fiftieth year on the throne. She was reluctant to celebrate but Bertie managed to convince her to do so. Coins were minted, medals made and convicts released for the occasion. The Queen described the event with content, being surprised by people’s support for her. Garden parties were also arranged, and the Queen’s only concern was her grandson Prince Wilhelm who stated that he and his wifer were mistreated during the occasion.

Great Exhibition

The Great Exhibition was the world’s first World Fair, arranged in 1851. The Queen appointed Prince Albert to have a great role in organizing it. The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park gave place to the occasion. Newspapers foreshawoded scandal and robbery and claimed that bad characters would enter the country. The exhibition was a success, with 6 million visitors. It showcased the first voting machine, daugerrotypes and the world’s biggest diamond. Its profits went to purchasing land for museums

John Brown

He was a ghillie at Balmoral Castle, a personal servant of the Queen. He obtained the title The Queen’s highest servant in 1872 which no other servant managed to acquire. He and Victoria shared a close bond which strengthened after Albert’s death. However, the rest of the royal family wasnt fond of him. Their relationship also gave way to many rumours, albeit theres no actual evidence

Kensington System

The system under which the Queen raised in order to avoid scandals. Its strict values and morals partly defined the Victorian period. Victoria had to sleep in a room with her mother and she was to be accomponied at all times. She even hed to hold someone’s hand when going down the stairs. She didnt have any company of her own age, hence King Leopold becoming an important father like figure to her.

King Leopold

The Kinf of Belgians and the husband of Princess Charlotte. He was the uncle of Queen Victoria. Since the strict rules of the Kensington System and her father’s death, Victoria regarded him as a father figure. They exchanged letter frequently on many subjects and Victoria also appreciated his advice. He was also th eldest brother of Prince Albert’s father so he strongly advised their marriage.

Prince Albert

Albert Saxe-Coburg was the son of King Leopold’s eldest brother. He studied in Bonn and then in Italy. He first met Victoria in 1826 but he didnt leave a good impression on Victoria who thought him to be a “a little Fat”. The couple then met in 1839 when Victoria quickly took a liking to him, proposing to him a few days later. Their marriage was defined by love but also frequent arguments. His position in court became significantly better after the Great Exhibition.

Private history

Her upbringing under the Kensington system was extremely strict, sheltering her from any harmful influence. This is why her relationship with Baroness Lehzen shaped her greatly, she was a sort of mother figure to her. Her marriage of Prince Albert was a peculiar one, defined by both love and frequent arguments. She despised being pregnant and thought of children as ugly, but she was a better grandmother than mother. Her life was also marked by mourning, first the death of her beloved husband, then her dear friend John Brown

Public History

Queen Victoria’s upbringing under the Kensington system defined some of the values reflected in the Victorian society. Her marriage with Prince Albert and her large family set other values and standards in the country. Her appreciation of the arts, education, and technology greatly improved the country. She avoided public duty often due to her prolonged mourning, but during the Golden Jubilee and her funeral, her subjects’ appreciation of her was eminent.

Queen Victoria

She was born 24 May 1819 an ascended to the throne at just 18 years old. Her reign marks the Victorian period. Her upbringing under the Kensington System and her family values set the norm and standard in the country. She married Albert Saxe-Coburg in 1840 and had nine children with him, eventhough she despised being pregnant. After her beloved husband’s passing, her life was marked by a prolonged mourning. She passed away in 1901.

The Victorian Era

Between 1830 and 1901, an era of moral responsability, honesty, earnestness, domestic propriety and strict cultural norms. In the eary period which lasted until the Great Exhibition, London became the world’s third largest country, and Britain the leading nation. The middle period was between the Great Exhibition and 1873. During then, imperial ideology stabilized. Lastly, the late period was marked by moral decay, economic recession, but also the emerge of the new woman: independent, wearing shorter skirts and having shorter hair. This was also time of secession in architecture.

William Gladstone

In 1880 the conservatives were defeated and Gladstone returned as prime minister. The queen was open about her dislike towards him, often not even shaking hands with him. She despised his goverment as well, still kept in touch with Disraeli. Victoria was particularly annoyed about him going abroad and giving speeches without her approval. She was also jealous of the pact that her subjects took a liking to Gladstone. However, his biggest mistake in Victoria’s eyes was letting a Colonel die in Sudan, because according to her he acted to late. Gladstone returned as prime minister until his death in 1898.

Blue Room

The Blue Room was the room Prince Albert died in in 1861. After that the Blue Room became a shrine for Queen Victoria. It was ordered that the room had to be kept in the same way as it was on the day of his death. New clothes had to be laid out for Albert every single day as well. Not only the Blue Room was a kind of sanctuary for the Queen, it represented part of her daily rituals she followed in order to ease her grief.

Imperialism

During Queen Victoria’s reign between 1837 and 1901, especially during the Middle Victorian Period, imperial ideology was strengthened. The country expanded vastly across several continents. This resulted in economic growth as well as it introduced new goods to the market and to people. Eventually, Queen Victoria became Empress of India in 1867, earning the long-awaited Regina et Imperatrix title. Imperialism affected the country in many ways, introducing new cultures, public and political discourse as well as new themes in literature.

Victorian Fashion

Victorian Fashion reflected much of the values and morals of the Victorian Era that were partly influenced by Queen Victoria’s upbringing under the Kensington System. Modestly was expected from people, especially from women. Queen Victoria also introduced the now widely popular tradition of wearing white wedding dresses. Back then virtually nobody wore white fabric as it was extremely hard to clean. In the late Victorian period, fashion started changing as the new woman emerged, wearing shorter skirts and cutting her hair shorter

Queen Victoria’s legacy

Queen Victoria’s reign had a huge impact on the country as suggested by the fact that we call this era the Victorian period. This era was one of presperity, industrialization and imperilaism. Also known as the Pax Britannica, the country became a leading nation. Queen Victoria managed to solidify the monarchy’s position in British society and was able to shift the monarchy’s image as well. A big part of her life was her family that presented interconnectedness to the nation. Her support for the arts, education and techonolgy brought on vast improvements in the country, making these more accessible to people.

Act of Union

After the Irish Rebellion in 1798, the question of Ireland’s future became more of a primary issue. The then prime minister, William Pitt, decided that a union would be the best solution. Eventually, with the Act of Union in 1801, the Irish government was abolished. This officialy meant a union between Ireland and Great Britain. From that point the monarch was known as the king/queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Diamond Jubilee

The Diamon Jubilee was the clebration of the Queen’s 60th year on the throne. The Queen’s health was taken into consideration and it was suggested that the activites should be less strenous than ten years ago. The Queen was taken from Buckingham palace to St Paul’s cathedral and was quite moved by people’s ovation for her. As during the Golden Jubilee, there were receptions, garden parties, military reviews and banquets. According to the then Prince of Wales, the celebrations went well, except for one moment when a Lord fainted off his horse

Etching

Both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert shared a passion and support for arts. Etching became a hobby that the practiced together and it rekindled Victoria’s love for creativity. In 1840 when she was pregnant with their first child, an etching press was set up for the young couple in Buckingham Palace. Etching is a process of producing prints, making designs on plates and other objects. Prince Albert was quite harsh and straightforward when it came to critising Victoria’s work, once even breaking a plate he thought to be bad

Industrial Revolution

The Second Industrial Revolution falls under the reign of Queen Victoria in the late 19th century. It is also known as the Technological Revolution of the Mechanical Age. This era was marked by rapid urbanisation, industrialization and mechanisation. The mass utilization of electricity, petroleum and steel was also popular. Several technological inventions such as steam ships, railways were born during this era. This developing technology was greatly supported by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their support made these improvements more accessible to the average people.

Mourning

Queen Victoria’s life was marked by a prolonged mourning after the passing of Prince Albert in 1861. The room which he died in, the blue room was kept as a shrine. Servants were ordered to lay out clothes for the prince every day. The Queen even had mourning stationery which is recognasible by having a wide black edge. She was rather spiritual, practicing in séances and other spiritual events such as table turning. She even believed in an eternal reunion w Albert

Photographic Society of London

Founded in 1853 with the aim to promote the art of photography. It later became known as the Royal Photography Society, the name they use currently to this day. Prince Albert made it his mission to support arts and technology and photography was one of the arts he was a patronage of. It was thanks to him that iot became a custom to photograph the royal family frequently. This more humanized image of the royal famility aided to develop a more positive image of them.

Pax Britannica

Also defined by the term The British Century. In the 19th century, Britain became the leading nation under Queen Victoria’s reign. During this time, the country was defined by prosperity, but serious tension was developing under the surface. This era lasted until the stock exchange crash in 1873 which led to recession. After the recession the USA and Germany became the leading nations.

Reform Bills

This refers to the three reform bills that expanded voter’s rights. The first bill in 1832 reformed the outdated electoral system by redistributing seats, giving the new middle class a share in the government. The Second Reform Act in 1867 gave votes to many workingmen in the towns and cities. The Third Reform Act of 1884-85 extended the vote to agricultural workers. While women were not able to obtain voting rights yet, these reform bills increased the number of people who could vot by a huge margin

Regina et imperatrix

Regina means Queen and Imperatrix means empress. In 1867 Queen Victoria became Empress of India, obtaining this long-awaited title. This can be attributed to the foreign policies of the then prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli. Although the Queen never visited India, she made an effort to immerse herself in the culture and even started learning the Hindustani language. She did this with the help of her Munshi, Abdul Karim.