Victoria, Queen

Cultural  

1. A British queen of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During her reign, Britain reached new heights in industrial and colonial power and diplomatic influence. Victoria became queen at the age of eighteen and soon married Prince Albert, who proved an enormous support to her; after his early death, she remained in official mourning until her own death forty years later. Victoria was known for her impartiality toward the two leading political parties of Britain, the Liberals and the Conservatives, which both produced extraordinary leaders during her reign (see Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone). She was also known for establishing strict standards of personal morality. (See Victorian period.)

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The term Victorian today sometimes recalls Queen Victoria's stands on personal moral issues and may suggest prudery or a moral self-satisfaction.

Queen Victoria's children and grandchildren married into many of the other royal families of Europe. Tragically, many of them passed on the disease hemophilia. Victoria carried the disease in her genes, and one of her sons died from it. The hemophiliac son of Nicholas II, the czar of Russia, was descended from Victoria. (See Grigori Rasputin.)

Example Sentences

The gravestone which Victoria had erected over Lehzen’s grave bears the inscription: “Dedicated in gratitude to the faithful mentor of her youth by Victoria, Queen of Great Britain”.

From The Guardian • Nov. 27, 2017

The very status of Alexandrina Victoria, Queen of England, at the time of her first encounter with that Indian servant struck me as perfectly ridiculous.

From New York Times • Oct. 3, 2017

Cunard's three current liners, Queen Victoria, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, were all named in the city.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2015

Away from the capital, Southampton celebrated as the cruise company Cunard sailed its three ships - Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth - into port together in single file for the first time.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2012

“Big ones. They are the daughters of ’Er Majesty, Queen Victoria, Queen of England and Empress of India.”

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck