Did Queen Victoria’s husband die of typhoid or a disease then unknown?
The death of Prince Albert changed the course of Queen Victoria’s life. After her beloved husband died, she entered into a deep mourning that lasted until her own death. The Queen dressed in dour widow’s weeds and kept the late prince’s rooms untouched for the rest of her life.
In 1859, the Prince began to experience a prolonged illness that would lead to his death. At first, the Prince began to experience stomach cramps. In 1860, he was abroad in Coburg, where he was out carriage driving. His horses bolted towards a railroad, and Albert had to jump from the carriage to avoid damage. This near death experience increased Albert’s anxiety about death.
In March of 1861, Queen Victoria’s mother died and the Queen retreated from all public duties. The Queen’s withdrawal from public life increased pressure on Albert to take over her appearances. By November of 1861, Prince Albert heard devastating news that two of his cousins, King Pedro V of Portugal and Prince Ferdinand of Portugal, died of typhoid. The prince also heard of rumors regarding his eldest son, Edward, Prince of Wales.
