Royal Titles Act

Royal Titles Act, 1876. After the Indian mutiny in 1857, sovereignty in India was transferred to the crown and the governor-general became a viceroy. The elevation of Wilhelm I to be Emperor (of Germany) seems to have upset Victoria, who asked her private secretary in 1873, ‘why have I never officially assumed this title?’ The change of prime minister in 1874 from Gladstone to Disraeli enabled the measure to go ahead. By the Royal Titles Act (39 & 38; 40 Vic. c. 10) the queen became Empress of India.