1 HEAD OF THE EMPIRE
Grandmother of Europe and, until now, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch (see more on that story on page 67), Queen Victoria is a formidable figure in British history – despite her small stature. Her reign has been described as a golden age of empire, when British global possessions expanded to the largest they had been, and would ever be. But what was Victoria’s role in Britain’s contribution to the great breakthroughs of the age?
Victoria’s approach to politics was proudly imperialist, and she felt a strong a nity with the di erent peoples who lived within her empire. As monarch, she favoured Conservative politicians such as Benjamin Disraeli and Lord Salisbury, who shared her imperialistic feelings.