On January
22, 1901, Queen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. It would
bring an end to the longest ever reign by a British monarch at the time (that
has since been surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II). Her death would also bring the
end to the House of Hanover, with her son Edward, becoming the first
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha monarch.
Queen
Victoria had been in a state of mourning since the death of her husband in
1861. Many of her commitments were taken over by her son, who would go on to
become King Edward VII of Great Britain. However, the public still loved their
queen.
Victoria
had spent Christmas at Osborne House, which was a custom she’d created for herself
after becoming a widow. While there, she became unwell and by mid-January was
dazed and confused. Her son and her eldest grandson, Emperor Wilhelm II of
Germany, were at her deathbed at the time, along with Turi (her favorite
Pomeranian) as she requested.
She had already
prepared for her death, with instructions for her funeral already written out.
She wanted a military burial, befitting the daughter of a soldier and the head
of the army. She also wanted to be dressed in white, so she was buried in a white
dress with her wedding veil. One of the dressing gowns belonging to her late
husband was placed in the coffin, along with a plaster cast of his hand to
ensure the two were together forever in peace.
From a
woman who became queen at the tender age of 18, she helped to modify the
monarchy and Britain. Partially due to the scandals that had discredited the
monarchy by her reign, Victoria moved the monarchy into one that was more
symbolic. There was a lot of focus on family values, rather than sex and
politics. She would leave a legacy that is still remembered in awe today.
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