bavarikon4UPrince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria of England
The marriage of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819–1861) was arranged by his uncle King Leopold of Belgium (1790–1865, king 1831–1865). Since his own hopes for a position as English prince consort had come to nothing, he looked after a good education and upbringing for Albert, not least by means of a stay at his court in Brussels. A first stay of Duke Ernest I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1784–1844) with his two sons (then 15 and 16 years old) at Victoria’s court in 1836 remained without results. During a second stay in London und Windsor, however, Victoria fell in love with her cousin Albert, after having rejected the marriage with the Netherlandish Prince William suggested by her entourage.
The wedding took place in February 1840. Albert had to agree beforehand that he would accept councillors appointed by the British prime minister. Nonetheless, Albert managed through systematic work to become familiar enough with the English ways to be able to influence the royal household as well as basic features of English politics.
