Queen Victoria's Best Photographs During Her Reign

This gallery explores the life and reign of Queen Victoria. The "Victorian Era" began in 1837 and lasted for a record 63 years and seven months, until her death in 1901. Her great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, eventually surpassed this record and is currently in the 68th year of her reign. Read on for facts about Victoria and her family alongside great photos!

Victoria was born on May 24, 1819, at Kensington Palace in London, England. She was the daughter of Prince Edward (fourth son of King George III) and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She's seen here at age 4 in an 1823 portrait by painter S.P. Denning.RELATED: Royal Top 10 - The Most Beautiful Queens & Princesses

Born in 1819, Victoria was initially fifth in the line of succession, but she became the heir presumptive at the age of just 11-years-old in 1830. She turned 18 one month before King William IV died, which began her reign on June 20, 1837. Her coronation ceremony, painted here by George Hayter, took place in June 1838. The Queen's reign would be the last for the House of Hanover.

This daguerreotype is the earliest known photograph of the Queen. It's estimated to have been taken in 1844 or 1845. She's seen sitting with her eldest child, Victoria, Princess Royal, in the image. The Princess Royal later married German Emperor Frederick III, with whom she bore Victoria's eldest grandchild, Kaiser Wilhelm II.READ MORE: 12 Interesting Facts About the Royal Family

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were known for their close and loving relationship. The couple, who were first cousins, married on Feb. 10, 1840. Here, they're seen together in an 1858 photograph. Albert was from the German House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which carried into subsequent reigns of the British monarch until George V changed the name to Windsor in 1917.

Albert and Victoria had nine children between 1840 and 1857. From left to right in this 1857 image are: Princess Alice, Prince Arthur, Albert, Prince of Wales, Prince Leopold, Princess Louise, Queen Victoria with Princess Beatrice, Prince Alfred, Victoria, Princess Royal, and Princess Helena.RELATED: The Earliest Known Photograph of a British Royal Family Member

Albert and Victoria are seen in this photograph dated March 1, 1861. The Prince died later that year on December 14.

Queen Victoria was devastated by Prince Albert's death at the age of 42. She grew secluded and intensely mourned her late husband for years afterward.

Queen Victoria appears here in more casual dress in an 1860 portrait. Did you know that she survived a shocking eight assassination attempts during her reign?

This ca. 1882 photograph of Victoria is among her best-known portraits. It was taken by photographer Alexander Bassano. The Queen would have been around age 63 at the time.RELATED: The Best Photos of Queen Elizabeth II Wearing a Crown