In 1840 he was appointed a Director of the Concerts of Ancient Music in London and showed a wide-ranging and adventurous taste in selecting music for these concerts and for those of the Philharmonic Society, at which the conductors included Schubert, Schumann and Mendelssohn.Įlected as Chancellor of Cambridge University in 1847, Prince Albert played a large part in reviving the spirit of learning there. The Prince's deep feeling for and knowledge for music found expression not only in private music making – composing, playing the organ or singing and playing the piano with The Queen – but also in his activities as an enlightened patron of music. He spoke out against slavery and child labour, and was instrumental in securing the abolition of duelling between Army officers. In domestic affairs, Prince Albert's influence was exerted in the direction of humanitarianism and moderate reform.

He corresponded freely with continental Sovereigns – to several of home he was of course related – on diplomatic and political questions. Prince Albert's knowledge and experience of the Continent gave him considerable influence over The Queen in the field of foreign affairs. He steered The Queen away from her close identification with the Whigs, and told her that the Crown should be above party. 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. Agricultural science was one of his many interests he studied new developments in farming and modernised the farms at Windsor, Osborne and Balmoral.īy the end of 1840, Prince Albert had already become, in effect, Private Secretary to The Queen. Prince Albert supervised closely the redesigning of Osborne House and the building of the new Balmoral Castle. The family divided their time between Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral and Osborne. The marriage took place on 10 February 1840 in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. Prince Albert's uncle, Prince Leopold, who became King of the Belgians in 1831, hoped that the Prince would marry his cousin, Princess Victoria, heir presumptive to the British throne, and he arranged the cousins' first meeting, on in England.Īfter Princess Victoria became Queen in 1837, the cousins met again in October 1839 and their engagement was announced on 23 November that year. In 1838-9 he made a tour of Italy, gaining an appreciation of its treasures of art and architecture and visiting artists' studios, while also studying music and taking singing lessons. He showed considerable aptitude in the natural sciences, languages, art and music, and was to become an accomplished organist, singer and composer, as well as an amateur painter. Prince Albert received a broad education, both from Florschütz and at the University of Bonn, which he attended in 18.

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