The mourning Queen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/prince-consort-prince-albert-18191861-79903

Queen Eizabeth was our longest serving Queen, spending 63 years on the throne. When Prince Albert passed away at the age of 42 in December 1861after 21 years of marriage and 9 children, it changed Queen Victorias life forever. She spent the rest of her 40 years alive isolated, rarely making public appearances in her home at Windsor Castle or Balmoral in Scotland where Albert and her had shared many happy memories. She mourned Prince Alberts death also by wearing black for the remainder of her life as a sign of respect. Every day she would have servants bring hot water up to his room for his morning shave, his clothes laid out, his chamber pot changed and his bed made, just like it had been done when he was alive. 

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4057/4681561151_bb40e98f5c_z.jpg

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02101/victoria-albert_2101024b.jpg

  
"How I, who leant on him for all and everything—without whom I did nothing, moved not a finger, arranged not a print or photograph, didn't put on a gown or bonnet if he didn't approve it shall go on, to live, to move, to help myself in difficult moments?" - Queen Victoria wrote to her daughter Victoria

The Queen had statues made of him, mementos were displayed around the royal palaces, she wore a locket constantly with a piece of his hair in and in many of her portraits there was a sign or portrait of Albert in the background too. She made her first public appearance after his death in October 1863 only to unveil a statue of Albert in Aberdeen. The poor mourning Queen never got over the death of her beloved Albert.

https://bohosojo.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/queen-victoria1.jpg

Queen Victoria became a trendsetter in the way she mourned her husbands death and the Victorian people copied her and set traditions to show respect and mourn for their loved ones. Women had to stay secluded like Victoria did although men continued to work through their mourning period. They would wear black and over time changed the colour of the fabrics to mark how long it had been since their loved one had passed, for example after about 6 months they could begin to wear purples and greys. Momento mori objects were made and death masks and photographs taken. (See Consumption and deathliness post)
Aswell as being a trendsetter in the way she mourned, people admired and copied the way she raised and cared for her children. It was Queen Victoria who began the tradition to have a Christmas tree and send gifts and cards around the festive period. Can you imagine a Christmas without decorations and gifts?!

References:
http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-death/victorians-and-the-art-of-dying
http://royalcentral.co.uk/blogs/the-widow-of-windsor-a-queen-in-mourning-9585
http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/victoria/section5.rhtml