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The title Empress of India was given to Queen Victoria in 1877 when India was formally incorporated into the British Empire. It is said Victoria's desire for such a title was motivated partially out of jealousy of the Imperial titles of some of her royal cousins in Germany and Russia. Prime minister Benjamin Disraeli is usually credited with creating the title for her.

When Victoria died and her son Edward VII ascended the throne, his title became Emperor of India. The title continued until India and Pakistan became independent from the United Kingdom at midnight on 14/ 15 August 1947. The title was given up by the then King of England in 1948, with retrospective effect to August 15, 1947.

When signing their name for Indian business, a King-Emperor or Queen-Empress used the initials R I (Rex/Regina Imperator/Imperatrix) or the abbreviation Ind. Imp. (Indiae Imperator/Imperatrix) after their name. This was also used on many British coins, including some 1948 coins of George VI.

When a male monarch held the title, his Queen consort assumed the title Queen Empress, but unlike Queen Victoria, they themselves were not reigning monarchs but the consorts of reigning monarchs.

1 Emperors and Empresses of India

• Queen-Empress Victoria (1877-1901)
• King-Emperor Edward VII (1901-1910)
• King-Emperor George VGeorge V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) ( 3 June 1865- 20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. As well as being King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and I (1910-1936)
• King-Emperor Edward VIIIEdward VIII Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David , later His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor ( 23 June 1894 28 May 1972) was the second British monarch of the House of Windsor. He reigned as the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britai (Jan-Dec 1936)
• King-Emperor George VIKing of the United Kingdom ( 1936- 52), King of Ireland ( 1936- 1949), Emperor of India ( 1936- 1947) George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George) ( December 14, 1895 February 6, 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from ( D (1936-1947)

Royal Consorts also were called Queen-Empress. This list of Queen-Empress Consorts is

• Queen Empress AlexandraAlexandra of Denmark ( December 1 1844 November 20 1925) was queen consort of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom 1901- 1910. Prior to that, she was Princess of Wales from 1863 to 1901 the longest any woman has ever held that title. In many ways, Alexan (wife of Edward VII)
• Queen Empress MaryQueen Mary Victoria Mary of Teck ( 26 May, 1867 24 March, 1953) was the Queen consort of George V of the United Kingdom. Queen Mary was also the Empress of India and Queen of Ireland. Prior to her accession, she was also Princess of Wales, Duchess of Corn (wife of George V)
• Queen Empress ElizabethHer Majesty Queen Elizabeth (nee The Honourable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon ( 4 August 1900 30 March 2002) was the Queen consort of George VI of the United Kingdom. She is the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, the current British monarch. After her husband's death s (wife of George VI)