British Empire

Queen Victoria

She reigned from 1837-1901 and she became a popular symbol of Britain´s success in the world (although the modern powerlessness of the monarch was confirmed). As a hard-working, religious mother of nine children, devoted to her husband, Prince Albert, she was regarded as the personification of contemporary morals. The idea that the monarch should set an example to the people in such matters was unknown before this time and has created problems for the monarchy since then.