Queen Victoria was the daughter of Edward (fourth son of King George III) and Princess Victoria Maria Louisa of Saxe-Coburg (sister of King Leopold of Belgium). Her father, Edward, died when she was eight months old thereby making her eventual heir to the throne since none of her three uncles had legitimate children of their own. She became Queen at the age of 18 when her uncle (William IV) died in 1837. Her reign is the longest lasting of any British monarchy (64 years). As a young Queen, Victoria leaned heavily on the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. Shortly into her reign, Victoria married her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. Their marriage was a happy and loving 17 year union which produced nine children. Albert died of typhoid fever at the young age of 42 and Victoria sank into a deep and isolating depression. For the rest of her reign she wore black.
