In the proper Doctor Who universe, Torchwood was founded by Queen Victoria after the werewolf incident in response to the realization that the wolf and the Doctor were alien.
Torchwood also exists in the "other" universe, however. Is there a Doctor there? Did the Time Lords exist in that reality?
Is there a connection to that universe not having a royal family but a British presidency instead? Was Victoria "infected" and Torchwood founded to fight the wolf, leading to the eventual destruction of the entire royal family?