Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. She inherited the throne at the age of 18, after her father's three elder brothers had all died, leaving no surviving legitimate children. The United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which the sovereign held relatively little direct political power. Privately, Victoria attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards of personal morality.
Though a reluctant queen, her relationship with her husband, Prince Albert, brought her into her own and her reign was known for bringing great prosperity.