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Even as Prince Albert’s illness reached its worst, Victoria remained hopeful, reportedly telling one of his doctors: ‘My husband won’t die, for that would kill me.’
But in December, 1861, die he did, an event which plunged not just the Royal Family but the nation itself into deepest mourning.
The death of the Prince Consort at just 42 did much to create the fashion for jet jewellery from Whitby. Manufacturers of black crepe had never had it so good.
In the final weeks of his life, Albert had suffered terribly.
But he clung to life, attended by his doctors and his third child, Alice, who served as her father’s nursemaid during his infirmity.
![On the evening of December 14, 1861, Albert, Prince Consort passed away. He was aged just 42](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/28/11/75932043-12570199-image-a-25_1695897216788.jpg)
On the evening of December 14, 1861, Albert, Prince Consort passed away. He was aged just 42
![Grief for her loss of her husband came to define the rest of her long reign](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75932039-12570199-Grief_for_her_loss_of_her_husband_came_to_define_the_rest_of_her-a-51_1702543555057.jpg)
Grief for her loss of her husband came to define the rest of her long reign
![Albert was surrounded by five of his nine children and his wife, Victoria, at the end](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75932035-12570199-Albert_was_surrounded_by_five_of_his_nine_children_and_his_wife_-a-52_1702543555057.jpg)
Albert was surrounded by five of his nine children and his wife, Victoria, at the end
His body was placed temporarily in the Royal Vault, St George’s Chapel and on December 18, 1862, he was buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore.
It was believed that the cause of his death was a virulent bout of typhoid fever. This was never verified by doctors, however, as Victoria refused to allow a post-mortem to be carried out on her husband. This has been debated among modern experts, who have listed Crohn’s Disease and cancer as a possible causes of his death.
But regardless of its source, Albert’s passing had a powerful impact on the country.
Following the news of his passing, shops closed their doors and theatrical performances were cancelled in honour of the royal’s death.
Christmas, which was just over a week after his passing was a sombre affair throughout Britain. His sudden death tragically propelled his adoring wife into life-long mourning.
The grief over the loss of her husband came to define the remainder of her reign as Britain’s longest-serving Monarch at the time.
Victoria only wore black for the rest of her reign, which lasted nearly 64 years, and became known as the ‘widow of Windsor’.
She sank into a deep depression, refusing to attend to public duties and prompting people to question what she was doing to earn the Crown’s yearly salary.
Though she never neglected her official Correspondence and continued to give audiences to ministers and official visitors, Victoria was reluctant to integrate back into public life.
![Victoria wore black for the rest of her reign, which lasted nearly 64 years. She became known as the 'Widow of Windsor'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75932045-12570199-Victoria_wore_black_for_the_rest_of_her_reign_which_lasted_nearl-a-53_1702543555058.jpg)
Victoria wore black for the rest of her reign, which lasted nearly 64 years. She became known as the ‘Widow of Windsor’
![His body was placed temporarily in the Royal Vault, St George's Chapel and on December 18, 1862, he was buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75932011-12570199-His_body_was_placed_temporarily_in_the_Royal_Vault_St_George_s_C-a-54_1702543555059.jpg)
His body was placed temporarily in the Royal Vault, St George’s Chapel and on December 18, 1862, he was buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore
![Married to Queen Victoria in 1840, Albert became hugely influential within his family, the Monarchy and government](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75931685-12570199-Married_to_Queen_Victoria_in_1840_Albert_became_hugely_influenti-a-55_1702543555059.jpg)
Married to Queen Victoria in 1840, Albert became hugely influential within his family, the Monarchy and government
By the end of the 1860s, there were calls for the Queen to abdicate and leave the throne open for her eldest son, Bertie, the future King Edward VII.
However, she gradually regained the public’s favour, especially when Bertie was stricken with a serious illness on the tenth anniversary of Albert’s death.
After Bertie had made his seemingly miraculous recovery a few weeks later, Victoria was urged to undertake a public thanksgiving service, which became her first official state ceremonial appearance in ten years.
Since his marriage to Queen Victoria in 1840, he had become the mainstay of his wife and family and a respected and imaginative adviser to the Government.
He took an active role within the Monarchy in his adopted country, including the smoothing of ruffled feathers over British neutrality in the American Civil War.
Also, before Victoria’s ascent to the throne, her family house, the Hanoverians, was not popular with the general public and the Royal Family’s reputation was far from favourable.
But as a couple, Victoria and Albert rehabilitated the royal image, setting themselves and their children up as both approachable and relatable to the common people.
After Princess Victoria became Queen in 1837, they met again in October 1839 and their engagement was announced on November 23 that year. The marriage took place on February 10, 1840, in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.
Born Prince Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel, he spent his childhood at Schloss Rosenau, his family’s country home near Coburg, and at the ducal palaces in Coburg and Gotha.
His uncle Prince Leopold, the later King of the Belgians in 1831, hoped the Prince would marry his cousin, Princess Victoria, heir presumptive to the British throne.
The young Victoria met Albert for the first time in 1836 when she was 17. Soon after she wrote Leopold, thanking him ‘for the prospect of great happiness you have contributed to give me in the person of dear Albert.’
![Born Prince Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel, Albert spent his childhood at Schloss Rosenau, his family's country home near Coburg, and at the ducal palaces in Coburg and Gotha](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75931687-12570199-Born_Prince_Franz_August_Karl_Albert_Emanuel_Albert_spent_his_ch-a-56_1702543555060.jpg)
Born Prince Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel, Albert spent his childhood at Schloss Rosenau, his family’s country home near Coburg, and at the ducal palaces in Coburg and Gotha
![The marriage between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert took place on February 10, 1840, in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/14/08/75931717-12570199-The_marriage_between_Queen_Victoria_and_Prince_Albert_took_place-a-57_1702543555061.jpg)
The marriage between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert took place on February 10, 1840, in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace
In 1840 Prince Albert was made a Knight of the Garter and created a Privy Counsellor, and in 1857 he was officially given the formal title of Prince Consort.
He was given full access to Cabinet and other State papers, and from 1841 onwards he attended audiences which The Queen held with her ministers.
When he was not working, family life was of great importance to Albert and he found much pleasure in the company of his nine children.
When Victoria died in January 1901, aged 81, one of Albert’s dressing gowns was placed by her side in her coffin, along with a plaster cast of his hand. She was also buried in her wedding veil.