Some 120 years later, her length of rule was surpassed by her great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth II. The Victorian era, named after her, saw the growth of the British Empire to a global industrial power, as well as advances in the arts and sciences, along with societal changes. Victoria was nicknamed the 'Grandmother of Europe' and at the time, with 64 years on the throne, she was Britain's longest-serving monarch. She made sure her children married into other European royal courts - little wonder that today her descendants sit on the throne in many European royal houses, including Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Kings Harald of Norway and Carl Gustav of Sweden, the former Spanish royal couple Juan Carlos and Sophia - all the way to Elizabeth II. Her influence in foreign policy was primarily grounded in her kinship relations with the leading ruling houses of Europe. Meanwhile, Queen Victoria carried out representative functions in addition to her role as mother of nine children. A magnificent statue of Albert stands in the center of London and Albert Bridge in London was named after him, as was the famous Royal Albert Hall concert hall. Thanks to the Queen's consort, the British royal family regained its reputation.

He established the first World's Fair, in London in 1851, while also reforming administration and construction in the kingdom. Ltd/picture allianceĪlbert allegedly initiated in England the German custom of putting up Christmas trees. Queen Victoria ruled for almost 64 years Image: CPA Media Co. Initially, the British wondered why their queen would choose a provincial German prince, but they soon changed their minds. In 1837, George IV's niece Victoria, who also had a partly German bloodline, was crowned. She married her cousin, the German Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Royal Pavilion in Brighton Image: Phil Bird/Zoonar/picture alliance Queen Victoria and Prince Albert He left behind no particular political legacy, but a cultural one: Buckingham House was expanded into a palace and a building was erected in the seaside resort of Brighton that is still unique in Europe in terms of opulence - the Royal Pavilion. His eccentricity had managed to severely damage the reputation of the royal house. The obese monarch was not mourned much when he died. His extravagant lifestyle did not endear him to his subjects. His eldest son, foppish Georg August Friedrich, took over during his father's lifetime as Prince Regent in 1811 and was crowned King George IV in 1820 - the next king with a predominantly German bloodline. He is mostly remembered as 'Mad King George.' George IV, a low point for the royal family's reputation This made the popular monarch, who supported the arts and sciences, increasingly incapable of ruling. George III suffered from a metabolic disorder, his health deteriorated and he became mentally ill. Cartoonists made fun of George III Image: Heritage Art/Heritage Images/picture alliance He married the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His grandson George III was the first in the line of German kings to be born in England, with English being his first language.

His son George II left the British their national anthem, 'God Save The King,' which later became 'God Save The Queen.'

By focusing on peace, stability, and prosperity for his two states - Great Britain and Hanover - he contributed to establishing 'a new European balance of power that ended decades of war,' according to Encyclopedia Virginia. However, the British soon realized that George I did a great deal for the kingdom. King George I Image: National Portrait Gallery/dpa/picture alliance In fact, legend has it a protocol instruction for banquets asked to not hurl pieces of meat at the servants. It was claimed that George hardly spoke any English - though some historians dispute this, suspecting it was a ploy in some ministerial meetings - and he had no manners. The German king did not set foot on English soil until two months after his proclamation and was crowned King George I on October 20, 1714. A divorcee, he publicly flirted with two mistresses. Manners, pleaseĪt the beginning, his British subjects were not amused. He was the only possible heir to the throne and the first German to ascend an English throne. About 300 years ago, on Augthe English Queen Anne died. As a result, the German Elector George Louis of Hanover was proclaimed king of Great Britain in absentia.

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