Death and funeral of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha facts for kids
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Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the husband of Queen Victoria. He was known as the Prince Consort. He passed away on December 14, 1861. His funeral was held nine days later, on December 23, 1861. This event deeply affected Queen Victoria and the entire United Kingdom.
Contents
Prince Albert's Final Years
His Health Challenges
In August 1859, Prince Albert became very ill. He suffered from severe stomach pain. His health slowly got worse over time. This made him feel very unwell and sad.
In October 1860, Albert had a scary accident. He was riding alone in a carriage in Coburg. The four horses pulling the carriage suddenly ran out of control. They galloped towards a train crossing where a wagon was waiting. To save himself, Albert bravely jumped from the carriage. One of the horses died in the crash. Albert was shaken but only had minor cuts and bruises. He told his family that he felt his time was coming to an end.
His Passing Away
On December 9, 1861, one of Albert's doctors, William Jenner, said he had typhoid fever. Prince Albert died at 10:50 p.m. on December 14, 1861. He was in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle. Queen Victoria and five of their nine children were with him. He was 42 years old.
At the time, doctors believed he died from typhoid fever. However, some modern experts think he might have had a different long-term illness. This is because he had stomach pain for at least two years before he died.
The Funeral and Legacy
The Funeral Ceremony
Prince Albert's funeral took place on December 23, 1861. It was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. His body was first placed temporarily in the chapel's Royal Vault.
About a year after his death, his remains were moved. They were taken to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore. This special building was not fully finished until 1871. The large stone coffin, called a sarcophagus, was carved from the biggest piece of granite ever found in Britain. Both Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were later laid to rest there.
Lasting Memorials
Prince Albert had asked that no statues or memorials be built for him. However, many public monuments were put up all over the country. They were also built across the British Empire. Two of the most famous are the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial in London. So many memorials were built that people joked about it.
