Lesson 1 What do we know already about the Victorian period? Who were the Victorians and when did they live?

1. Lesson 1What do we know already about the Victorian period?Who were the Victorians and when did they live?

2. Objectives • To review what we know already about the Victorian period. • To be able to identify Queen Victoria and place the Victorian period in relation to other periods of history. • To find out about Queen Victoria and her family.

3. Concept map Victorians

4. Who was Queen Victoria? Queen Victoria was born on 24th May,1819 at Kensington Palace, London. She was christened Alexandrine Victoria. However, from birth she was formally addressed as Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Kent. Victoria was the only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (the fourth son of King George lll ), and Princess Victoria Mary Louisa of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

5. How she became Queen. • Her father died soon after she was born. Victoria was only 18 when she came to the throne, following the death of her uncle, William IV, in 1837, who had no legitimate children (children born to married parents). She was crowned in June 1838. • Her reign was the longest in British history. She became Queen on 20th June 1837 and reigned for exactly sixty-three years, seven months, and two days (June 20, 1837 - January 22, 1901).

6. Who did she marry and did she have any children? • She married her German cousin, Prince Albert on 10th February 1840 and this marriage, which ended with his death in 1861, at the age of 42, was happy and produced nine children.

7. Queen Victoria’s and Prince Albert’s children • Many of their children and grand children married heirs to thrones of Spain, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Romania. Because this, Victoria became known as the "Grandmother of Europe.“ • Victoria, Princess Royal (November 21, 1840 - August 5, 1901) • Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later, Edward VII) (November 9, 1841 - May 6, 1910), • Alice (April 25, 1843 - December 14, 1878) • Alfred (August 6, 1844 - July 31, 1900) • Helena (May 25, 1846 - June 9, 1923) • Louise (March 18, 1848 - December 3, 1939) • Arthur (May 1, 1850 - January 16, 1942) • Leopold (April 7, 1853 - March 28, 1884) • Beatrice (April 14, 1857 - October 26, 1944)

8. The House of Hanover • The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha came to the British Royal Family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. • Queen Victoria herself remained a member of the House of Hanover.

9. Who was the Monarch after Queen Victoria? • Queen Victoria was succeeded by her eldest son, Albert Edward, (Edward) Prince of Wales. He became King Edward VII. This time period is known as Edwardian times.

10. Interesting facts • Did you know? Queen Victoria was only 5 feet (1.52 m) tall. Victoria's first language was German. At three years old she learnt to speak English and French. Later she learnt to speak Hindustani because she was ruler of India as well. Victoria didn't go to school. She was taught at home. As well as learning languages, Victoria studied history, geography, and the Bible. She was taught how to play the piano and learned how to paint, a hobby that she enjoyed into her 60s.

11. Want to know more? For further information on Victorian Britain why not try some of the following: • Microsoft Encarta (or alternative CD ROM encyclopaedias) • History books • Websites, including: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/victorians/ www.snaithprimary.eril.net