From Princess to Empress
Royal Mail has today revealed images of 10 new Special Stamps to mark the bicentenaries of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.
Six of the stamps chart Queen Victoria’s life from age 11 with artwork including: Queen Victoria when a Girl by Richard Westall and Queen Victoria by Baron Heinrich von Angeli.
Completing the six images are: Queen Victoria with Benjamin Disraeli by Theodore Blake Wirgman: Queen Victoria on Horseback with John Brown by Charles Burton Barber; Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter; and The Marriage of Queen Victoria by Sir George Hayter.
Until the reign of Queen Elizabeth II exceeded it in 2015, Queen Victoria held the record for the longest reign of any British monarch, at 63 years and 217 days.
Throughout more than six decades, Queen Victoria was often regarded as a seemingly indestructible figurehead. Although she never totally returned to public view after the sudden death of Prince Albert in December 1861, the sheer fact of her longevity and the solidity of her presence had earned the nation’s respect. The Queen’s long reign also initiated the slow but sure reinvention of the British monarchy, making it increasingly accountable and accessible.
The accompanying Miniature Sheet of four additional stamps, celebrates the legacy of Prince Albert.
Stamp strategy manager, Philip Parker, said: ‘Queen Victoria was just 18 when she became Queen, and her reign lasted to the dawn of the 20th century. Prince Albert was determined his adopted country should be at the forefront of science and art education. Our new stamps celebrate their rich legacy.’
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from www.royalmail.com/queenvictoria by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Office branches throughout the UK.
