THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
The British Empire consists of:—
- I. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
- II. India, the Colonies, Protectorates, and Dependencies.
Reigning Queen and Empress.
Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India, born May 24, 1819, the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George III., and of Princess Victoria of Saxe-Saalfeld-Coburg, widow of Prince Emich Karl of Leiningen. Ascended the throne at the death of her uncle, King William IV., June 20, 1837; crowned at Westminster Abbey, June 28, 1838. Married, Feb. 10, 1840, to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; widow, Dec. 14, 1861.
Children of the Queen.
I. Princess Victoria (Empress Frederick), born Nov. 21, 1840; married, Jan. 25, 1858, to Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (Friedrich I. of Germany), eldest son of Wilhelm I., German Emperor and King of Prussia; widow, June 15, 1888.
II. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, born Nov. 9, 1841; married March 10, 1863, to Princess Alexandra, eldest daughter of King Christian IX. of Denmark. Offspring:—(1) George, Duke of York, born June 3, 1865, married July 6, 1893, to Victoria Mary, daughter of the Duke of Teck,—offspring, Edward Albert, born June 23, 1894; Albert Frederick Arthur George, born December 14, 1895; Victoria Alexandra, born April 25, 1897; (2) Louise, born Feb. 20, 1867, married to the Duke of Fife, July 27, 1889,—offspring, Alexandra Victoria, born May 17, 1891; Maud Alexandra, born April 3, 1893; (3) Victoria, born July 6, 1868; (4) Maud, born Nov. 26, 1869, married July 22, 1896, to Prince Karl of Denmark.
III. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Aug. 22, 1893), born Aug. 6, 1844; married, Jan. 23, 1874, to Grand Duchess Marie of Russia, only daughter of Emperor Alexander II. Offspring:—(1) Marie, born Oct. 29, 1875; married Jan. 10, 1893, to Prince
