Albert, Prince Consort (1819-1861)

[Prinsara]

We don’t know whether the birth of the Prince of Wales (and therefore his conception) was right on the dot though or whether he was a little late (or early.) After all, babies do choose their own time (and date) of arrival.

Alternate history is a fascinating subject and if the nearly 22 year old Victoria had been left with just a baby daughter, her son not yet conceived, history would indeed have been changed. She would undoubtedly have been advised to marry again after five or so years of widowhood and there would have been another Consort and another family.

And trust Albert to have caught a cold due to the mishap. That man’s physical constitution seems to have been remarkably fragile!

Actually, we do have a strong hint. Since Victoria's obstetrician felt the birth was "imminent" on October 18 and then there were a few 'false alarms' after that, it would seem that Bertie was late, and thus Victoria was already pregnant when Albert had the accident — which makes sense. He probably wouldn't have been up to very much after falling into freezing water. If he did in fact have Crohn's or something of a similar autoimmune nature, it's no wonder he was ill from everything all the time — but then his grandchildren by Bertie were hardly any healthier...

 

[LauraS3514]

Exactly nine months before the birth of the Prince of Wales

The "normal" gestation of a human infant is approximately 280 days - or ten lunar months. Of course, there are major variations in that timeline: none of my three pregnancies went the full 280 days.?

 

[LauraS3514]

If he did in fact have Crohn's or something of a similar autoimmune nature, it's no wonder he was ill from everything all the time — but then his grandchildren by Bertie were hardly any healthier...

That's true enough. Eddie was quite fragile, both physically and mentally (allegedly) and the daughters were medically frail as well. Louise had difficult pregnancies and her two daughters only managed to have one child each, as did Maud. This may have come from Alix, however - it's hard to tell. George was the healthiest, and managed to father six children.

 

[Prinsara]

That's true enough. Eddie was quite fragile, both physically and mentally (allegedly) and the daughters were medically frail as well. Louise had difficult pregnancies and her two daughters only managed to have one child each, as did Maud. This may have come from Alix, however - it's hard to tell. George was the healthiest, and managed to father six children.

Not just reproductively — it's on record that they were sick with everything pretty much all the time, kind of like Albert. Colds, flu (which killed Eddy), abscesses, dental issues, George almost died from typhoid (in fine family tradition), and none of them lived to be 70. It may have been Alix, but she herself still made it over 80.

Albert had four children who lived to be 90 or nearly (although that may have been Victoria).

 

[CyrilVladisla]

In May 1857 Prince Albert opened the Manchester Art Treasures exhibition.
It was here that photographs of the Royal Family were first put on public display.