The Letters of Queen Victoria : A Selection from her Majesty's correspondence between the years 1837 and 1861. Volume 2, 1844-1853

"The Letters of Queen Victoria: A Selection from her Majesty's Correspondence" edited by Arthur Christopher Benson and Viscount Esher is a historical account compiled in the early 20th century. This collection encompasses select correspondence from Queen Victoria between the years 1837 and 1861, providing insight into her thoughts, feelings, and the events she experienced during her reign. The opening of the work introduces the reader to Queen Victoria’s personal reflections and royal duties at the onset of the year 1844. She writes to her uncle, the King of the Belgians, about various familial and political matters, revealing her sentiments about family life, her children, and significant political events such as a parliamentary crisis and diplomatic relations with France. The letters not only depict her emotional world but also serve as a window into the political landscape of the time, highlighting Queen Victoria's role as a monarch involved in the intricacies of governance and international relations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days—which was longer than those of any of her predecessors—constituted the Victorian era. It was a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. In 1876, the British Parliament voted to grant her the additional title of Empress of India.