Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years, a period known as the Victorian Era, which saw the peak of the British Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British Empire. Becoming queen at just 18, she oversaw a time of immense social, political, and technological change. Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert was a central part of her life; her profound grief after his early death in 1861 led her to wear black for the rest of her life, influencing mourning customs for generations. As the 'Grandmother of Europe,' her children and grandchildren married into many of the continent's royal families. Her reign came to symbolize British stability and moral rigor, even as the world around her transitioned into the modern age.