Happy Empire Day

Following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the late Majesty's birthday (May 24, 1819) continued to be celebrated as Empire Day until 1958, when it was changed to Commonwealth Day. In 1977 Commonwealth Day was moved to March, but Canada continued to reserve the closest Monday to May 24th as Victoria Day, a national holiday in honour of the late Empress and in honour of the official birthday of the reigning Sovereign.

Gregory Benton at Piddingworth gets it right:

"She was the first 'constitutional monarch' overseeing the development of British civilisation and enterprise in a quarter of the world at the time; parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, the progress of individual freedom all mingled with beaver pelt and tea. Pax Britannica.

As imperfect as the third British Empire was (being composed of the imperfections common to all power), compare the relative prosperity and quality of life of Victoria's 'children', aka, Great Britain & Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, et al, with most of the world's contemporary versions of life and culture; including those former colonies that, gaining independence from Westminster, chose Lenin, Stalin or some other murderous tyrant as their model instead...

A brief moment in spring for a loyal toast and a song for Britannia.

Land of Hope & Glory, indeed."