England was already a mighty power when Victoria inherited the throne; by the end of her rule, the British Empire would be the biggest the world had ever seen. During her sixty-three years in power, Victoria wielded substantial political influence despite England’s position as a constitutional monarchy. Her reign also showed significant social progress: Housing conditions and wages improved, and women were slowly gaining strides in equality (though Victoria herself had no sympathy for that cause).

Her marriage to her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, is considered one of history’s greatest romances. Together they had nine children, who married into royal families across the continent, earning Victoria the nickname “the grandmother of Europe.” Albert’s death in 1861 sent her spiraling into a deep depression, and for three years afterward she withdrew from the public eye.

In 1853, Victoria delivered her son Leopold, and her use of chloroform—the first pain-relief method available for childbirth—encouraged its wider use. And although the Victorian era is commonly remembered for its strict codes of personal morality and family values, Victoria appreciated sensuality—she loved collecting nude sculptures and paintings, some of which served as birthday gifts for Albert.