Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland (1819-1901)

Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent and Strathearn was born on the 24th May 1901 to Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (1767-1820) (the fourth in line to the throne) and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Saafeld (1786-1861) at Kensington Palace in London. Less than a year after her birth, her father died, leaving Victoria fourth in line to the throne after her three uncles. On the death of her two eldest uncles, George and Frederick, who had no surviving issue, her other uncle William, became king. On his death in 1837, Victoria was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, as William had no legitimate children. On the 10th February 1840, she married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) at St. James's Palace. Together they had nine children: Victoria (1840-1901), Albert Edward (1841-1910), Alice (1843-1878), Alfred (1844-1900), Helena (1846-1923), Louise (1848-1939), Arthur (1852-1942), Leopold (1853-1884) and Beatrice (1857-1944). She reigned as queen for 63 years, an achievement matched by no other monarch before or since. She died on the 22nd January 1901 at Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight, aged 81.