When Queen Victoria died, most Britons had never lived under another monarch. She reigned for nearly 64 years, longer than any other British ruler, in a period remembered as the Victorian era. Her long rule helped rebuild eroding popular support for the monarchy.

Though the formal political power of the monarchy eroded steadily during her reign, Victoria continued to wield considerable influence up to the end of her life. Under Victoria, Britain continued its industrial and territorial expansion; when she died, as a popular expression went, the sun never set on the British empire.