Profile of the Day: Albert, Prince Consort

Posted August 26, 2020 by Amanda | No Comment

On this day in 1819, Prince Albert was born. The husband of Queen Victoria, the Prince was one of the Queen’s most trusted advisors. His death at the age of 42 profoundly impacted Victoria for the rest of her life.

Image: Albert, Prince Consort / Library of Congress

Prince Albert was born on August 26, 1819 at Schloss Rosenau in Bavaria. He was the second son of Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld, and his first wife, Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. When he was a child, his parents divorced on the grounds of adultery. His mother was exiled from court in 1824 and she presumably never saw her children again.

In 1840, he married his first cousin, Queen Victoria, at Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace. Interestingly, Albert and Victoria were born just a few months apart and were even delivered with the assistance of the same midwife, Charlotte von Siebold. They had a very close marriage and had 9 children together.

As a trusted advisor to the Queen, Prince Albert encouraged the Queen to take a greater interest in social issues. He was a supporter of education reform and the abolition of slavery. He was also instrumental in the organization of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Prince Albert died on December 14, 1861 at the age of 42. His death profoundly affected the Queen, who was overwhelmed with grief. For the rest of her life, she wore black in mourning for her husband.

Explore Prince Albert’s family tree on Geni and share your connection to the royal.