Before Prince Albert: Two Men Who Wanted to Marry Queen Victoria

A wedding portrait of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Did you know that before Prince Albert, a couple of other men wanted to marry Queen Victoria? In reality, I am sure thousands of men wanted to marry the most eligible woman in the world. However, there were two in particular who, besides Albert were considered, and the both ended up having a special relationship with the Queen.

Christian IX of Denmark with his wife Louise of Hesse-Kassel

The first was Christian IX of Denmark, though at the time, he was a Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg. (The Danish Royal Family.) He was not supposed to be an heir to the Danish crown because he was a second cousin of the King, and on top of that, a younger son. But, as it became clear that the senior branch of the House of Oldenburg would die out with the death of King Frederick VII, Christian was chosen as his heir. Before his marriage to Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel, he did try to win Queen Victoria’s hand. Because he was not an heir presumptive at the time, it would have been possible to marry Queen Victoria, but it seems as though the Queen tactfully rejected Prince Christian’s advances. Interestingly though, Prince Christian became an in-law of Queen Victoria and his descendants did end up on the throne. Christian’s daughter Alexandra became Queen of England through her marriage to Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Albert Edward who became Edward VII. A second line of Christian’s descendants have more recently come to the throne through his second son George. George was elected as the King of Greece when he was just seventeen, and his son Andrew, was the father of Prince Philip, the husband of Elizabeth II and father of the current British Monarch King Charles. (This is why Prince Philip was originally a Prince of Greece and Denmar.k) This suggests also that the current King has an enormous amount of Danish blood. (More than if Christian would have married Queen Victoria in the first place!)

Alexander II of Russia

A suitor that Queen Victoria was rumored to have been much more taken with was the Russian Prince Alexander Nikolaevich, who would become Alexander II. In 1839, as part of his education, he was sent on a European tour where he met Queen Victoria. They were apparently very taken with one another, but unfortunately, their union was not possible. Since Victoria was the Queen Regnant, she was unable to marry another monarch, or heir to other European thrones as this would have led to many issues about both countries being ruled. Although their union was not to be, there was a slightly more distant family tie as Alexander II’s son, Alexander III married Princess Dagmar of Denmark, who was the sister to Queen Alexandra. This meant that Queen Victoria’s grandson George V was a first cousin to Alexander II’s grandson Tsar Nicholas II, who as we know was unfortunately killed during WWI. As well as being first cousins, George and Nicholas both had a very strong resemblance to one another. 

First cousins, Tsar Nicholas and George V.

When it came down to it, I personally believe that although the young Queen might have enjoyed her flirtations with potential suitors, the only one who was seriously ever considered was her cousin, Prince Albert. Albert fit the bill in just about every way as he was part of her family, so he would have common interests and would not have been swayed by the politics of other countries, he was a protestant, he was a younger son, so while he was a minor Prince, he had no inheritance, and finally, Queen Victoria was very taken with him. This marriage was heartily supported by the family of Albert and Victoria, and particularly by their Uncle, King Leopold I of the Belgians, of whom the Queen was very fond. 

Probably because of Albert’s untimely death which lead to the absolute reverence of his memory by Queen Victoria, most other men that were in her life are completely overlooked and forgotten about. But, I think it is just as important to remember the young and vibrant Queen Victoria as it is to remember the older and more grandmotherly widow adorned in black. 

Until Next Time,

McKenzie

PS. Looking for some Historical Fiction about Queen Victoria? Be sure to check out Victoria on Masterpiece and The Young Victoria. 

A very exciting PS!

I have started offering additional Mostly British History Content! My aim is to always get people talking about and interested in history, so I will always have at least 2 general posts per month. On top of those, paid subscribers will also get 2-3 posts per month. These posts will include much more in-depth biographies, and analysis of historical figures, letters, findings, and more. I will also be offering regular discussions for paid subscribers and the entire backlog of my work to date. What are we currently diving into? Letters from Edward VIII to his first and my very favorite of his mistresses, Freda Dudley Ward.

Here is a discount link if you choose to dive a little deeper! Good through 10/31!