Queen Victoria, from what I've read on her and her history, was absolutely enamored with her husband, Prince Albert. From Rappaport's Queen Victoria: A Biographical Companion, it details that upon his death Victoria sought to have "his memory forever engraved in the hearts and minds of the nation by erection of statues, plaques and other monuments commemorating his life and achievements".

In the same entry, the author quotes a rather amusing Dickens quote about the topic (who was speaking to his friend John Leech):

"If you should meet with an inaccessible cave anywhere in that neighbourhood, to which a hermit could retire from the memory of Prince Albert and testimonials to the same, pray let me know of it. We have nothing solitary and deep enough in this part of England" (Hobhouse 1983,169).

So overall, it seems that it was quite uncommon to have such an extreme reaction, especially made more poignant with the Queen of England being subject of such comparisons. Rappaport mentions that upon his death, "the queen's plaintive and childlike response to Albert's death was like that to the loss of a father figure", with the Queen being quoted as saying "There is no one to call me Victoria now" (Charlot 1991, 425).

11 years is not typical even after Queen Victoria. According to Metropolitan Museum of Art's Death Becomes Her, A Century of Mourning Attireexhibit (and almost every book I've read on the subject really), widows were expected to be in full mourning for two years, she may only wear solid black clothing and no jewelry except black mourning jewelry and her wedding ring (if you've seen Gone with the Wind, after Scarlett's first husband Charles Hamilton died and she and Melanie (inappropriately) attended a ball where the ladies were asked to donate their jewelry for the war effort, Melanie said they were in mourning so they have no jewelry, but gave up her wedding ring anyway, Scarlett follows suit. Later Rhett insists on dancing with Scarlett, which caused an old lady to faint.) After two years she may gradually lessen the somber attire, she may wear other solid dull colors such as gray, brown, lavender, etc. This period is called half mourning.

What was the political fallout of Victoria's "Extreme Mourning"? I seem to think that prior to that she was actively involved in the affairs of state but dialled back her involvement.

Were people pleased that an unelected monarch was less active or was she seen as abandoning her duties?

Edit: Spelling.