By the 53rd year of her reign, Queen Victoria had acquired 38 living grandchildren - and it became her hobby to marry them off in a series of dynastic alliances.

The iconic Queen had a complicated relationship with her nine children.

Royals have been marrying their cousins since time immemorial, traditionally as a means of strengthening political alliances. What might be surprising though is that members of the royal family have continued to marry their cousins, right up to the present day!

Doc Scurlock and Antonia Herrera on a cabinet card by the photographic firm of Comfort, Butte Montana. Original image from the collection of P. W. Butler.

Queen Victoria was born as “Alexandrina Victoria” on May 24, 1819. Her mother was 32 year old Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld; her father was 51 year old Prince Edward Augus…

Amazing news out of London yesterday- the Victoria & Albert Museum has acquired Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet after a temporary export ban was placed on the piece last year. In honour…

She was known as the grandmother of the continent for a reason.