Queen of England

Strongly influenced by her husband, with whom she worked in closest harmony, after his death in 1861, Victoria went into lengthy seclusion. She neglected many duties, which brought her unpopularity and motivated a republican movement. But with her recognition as empress of India, and the celebratory golden (1887) and diamond (1897) jubilees, she rose high in her subjects favor, and increased the prestige of the monarchy.Victoria had strong preferences for certain prime ministers (notably Melbourne and Disraeli) over others (notably Peel and Gladstone), but, following the advice of Albert, did not press these beyond the bounds of constitutional propriety. At various points in her reign, she exercised some influence over foreign affairs, and the marriages of her children had important diplomatic and dynastic implications in Europe.

Queen Victorias reignthe longest in English historysaw advances in industry, science (Charles Darwins theory of evolution), communications (the telegraph, popular press) and other forms of technology; the building of railways and the London Underground, sewers, and power distribution networks; the construction of bridges and other engineering feats; a vast number of inventions; a greatly expanded empire; unequal growth of wealth, with class differences to the fore; tremendous poverty; increase in urban populations, with the growth of great cities like Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham; increased literacy; and great civic works, often funded by industrial philanthropists.