The life of Prince Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

On the morning of 15th October 1874, Queen Victoria ‘found many telegrams & the welcome news that Marie had been safely delivered of a son’ at Buckingham Palace. Prince Alfred was the eldest child and only son of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia.

On 23rd November, the baby was christened with the names Alfred Alexander William Ernst Albert in the Lower Bow Room at Buckingham Palace. His godparents included: Queen Victoria; Emperor Alexander II of Russia; Wilhelm I, Ferman Emperor and King of Prussia; Victoria, Crown Princess of Germany; Ernst II, Duke if Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; and Albert Edward, Prince of Wales.

Known as ‘Young Affie’ by his family, the prince spent his early years at Clarence House with his parents and four sisters. By the time he began his education, his position as future Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha looked more likely. Realising the importance of this, his mother demanded he move to Potsdam and undergo a strict German education. While he was there, he also served as a Lieutenant in the Prussian 1st Foot Guards. However, unlike many of his cousins, Alfred hated military life and the lack of parental guidance had done permanent damage.

In 1893, his father became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, making Alfred the new Hereditary Prince. The Duke and his family moved into Schloss Rosenau inCoburg. Though his parents were now around, his mother remained strict and would discipline Alfred for simple things. In 1895, Maria also arranged an engagement between Prince Alfred and Duchess Elsa of Württemberg. Luckily for Alfred, the arranged marriage was soon called off but other potential suitors were put forward, including Princess Feodore of Saxe-Meiningen. It’s likely that it was his mother’s attitude that caused Alfred to rebel. On one occasion, his aunt, the Crown Princess of Germany, described him as being “heedless and giddy to resist temptation, bad examples”. Unfortunately for the young Prince, his frivolous lifestyle soon caused him to contract syphilis, leading a number of complications.

As time passed, Alfred’s health continued to deteriorate. His sister, Marie, Queen Consort of Romania, described how he had become pale as “his young life” was “wasting away”. she also went on to describe how “he hardly recognises anyone and often does not know what he says”.

On 23rd January 1899, the Duke and Duchess were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Prince Alfred was noticeably absent. During the celebrations, the 24 year old Prince is believed to have shot himself. Luckily he survived and doctors recommended rest. However, his mother demanded he go to Sanatorium Martinsbrunn in Mearan to recover properly from “nervous depression”. Tragically, Alfred died there less than two weeks later, on 6th February. The Duke was so angry at his wife that he is thought to have never slept under the same roof as her again! The official cause of death was recorded as “chronic cerebral affection”, although the exact cause will never be completely known. Alfred’s body was laid to rest at Friedrich am Glockenberg in Coburg.

Queen Victoria’s journal: The death of Prince Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

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