Queen Victoria handwritten and decorated envelopeA handwritten and handpainted envelope from Queen Victoria. Few British rulers have cast as long a shadow as Queen Victoria. Her reign lasted 63 years, which stood as the record up until great granddaughter Elizabeth II surpassed her in 2015. Britain was at the very height of its wealth and power during the Victorian era. Its colonies covered almost a third of the worlds land mass, making up the largest empire in history. Queen Victoria married her