Early Years of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort
Compiled under the Direction of Her Majesty the Queen
Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19th Century Series

Originally written for private circulation among the Royal Family, this book, written by Lieutenant-General Charles Grey (1804?70), was first published in 1867. It details Prince Albert's life from his birth in 1819 through to his wedding to Queen Victoria and the first year of their married life. The Queen commissioned Grey, who had been secretary to both Albert and herself, as her husband's biographer, and the book was granted a wider publication, so that all who read it would 'tend to a better and higher appreciation of Prince Albert's great character'. Sourced from letters and memoranda, the book traces the development of Albert from an intelligent and gentle boy to the intellectual and moral compass of a nation. It records Albert's first visits to England, the wedding, his love for his adopted country and life in London, and includes details such as an attempted assassination of the Queen.

Preface; Letter to the Queen; Introductory remarks; 1. 1819–23. The Saxe-Coburg family; 2. 1823–6. The princes removed to the care of a tutor; 3. 1826–8. Gotha added to the possessions of the Duke of Coburg; 4. 1828–31. Life at the Rosenau, etc.; 5. 1832–3. Visit of the princes to Brussels; 6. 1832–5. The Rosenau and Reinhardsbrunn; 7. 1835–7. Visit to Mecklenburg; 8. April 1837 to close of 1838. Residence at Bonn; 9. 1838–9. Separation of the brothers; 10. 1839. Visit to England; 11. 1839. Declaration of the marriage to the Privy Council; 12. 1840. Proceedings in Parliament; 13. 1840. Departure from Gotha and arrival in England; 14. 1840. First year of marriage; Appendices.