When Victoria became Queen she was very popular and over 400,000 people came to London to see her Coronation procession. One of her first acts as Queen was to ban John Conroy from her presence. Victoria had celebrated her 18th birthday in May 1837 which meant she could rule in her own right without a regent. King William IV died without legitimate issue on 20th June 1837. George’s brother William succeeded as King William IV and Victoria became heir to the throne. In 1827 Victoria’s uncle Frederick, Duke of York died and three years later King George IV passed away without issue. Victoria’s uncle George became King George IV and she became third in line to the throne. Her father died in January 1820, six days before the death of King George III.

Path to the ThroneĪt the time of her birth Victoria was fifth in line to the throne.

They continually pressured the young princess to appoint Conroy as her private secretary but she continually refused. Her mother wanted to keep Victoria wholly dependent on her and her comptroller Sir John Conroy.Īs she grew older Conroy and her mother sought to control her even more.

Her mother was very strict and kept her young daughter isolated from other people. Victoria was educated by private tutors at home. At the time of her birth, she was fifth in line to the throne, after her father and her three uncles. Queen Victoria was born Alexandrina Victoria to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Saalfeld-Coburg at Kensington Palace, London.

Family tree for queen victoria