Royalty Digest

But if Ernst could not influence the education of his heir, he could at least reach out to another member of his brother's family when, in 1859, the Princess Royal was married to Prince Friedrich of Prussia. Ernst knew that his clever niece, so like her father and so steeped in her father's ways, would be exposed to fierce opposition from conservative elements at the Prussian Court: he warned against the political dangers of the match, but Albert saw only the possibilities. It was left to Victoria to voice their gratitude for Ernst's comforting presence in Berlin. 'Well do I understand what a pleasure it was for you to see so much of dear Uncle Ernest who is so kind and warm-hearted,' she told her daughter. 'Really for Augusta to call herself "your nearest relation" when he and Aunt Alexandrine were there! I am rather offended at it!'11 Still she was not blind to her brother-in-law's faults, and the separation from her eldest daughter gave her a sympathetic correspondent to whom she could express her feelings. Her second daughter, Alice, was Ernst's godchild and in April 1859 he was expected in England for the confirmation. The Queen was eager to see Alexandrine again, but Ernst had other ideas. 'We are all shocked at Uncle Ernest not bringing dear Aunt Alexandrine, it was settled last year, she has longed for it - wishes it so much… we have asked for it again and again and Uncle never answers even, but comes alone. It is too bad and will not be understood…. Uncle E. only thinks of himself; it provokes me more than I can say..'12 Once the hope of producing an heir had gone, Ernst took no further interest in his wife.

Prince Alfred c. 1860

As the royal children grew, he expressed his own feeling about their future with growing determination. In 1861 he heard or guessed that Victoria and Albert were considering Alexandra of Denmark as a bride for the Prince of Wales. Albert had not told him: he raised the question with the Prince of Wales directly, then protested to the parents that such an alliance flew in the face of German interests. Albert was affronted by his brother's handling of the matter. 'I am not, as you suppose, asking, "What has that got to do with you?", for your position, relationship, and friendship entitle you to a real interest in Bertie's welfare and future possibilities in politics. But I do complain of your discussing matters of so private and delicate a nature with third parties, and sending me a Memorandum written by a secretary.' Politically he understood and shared Ernst's reservations but he could see no alternative match - 'Vicky has racked her brains to find someone for us, but without success!' All he could do, he argued, was to keep the discussion within the families, carefully avoiding government involvement; 'this is the only way to prevent a break with Prussia and the only way to keep the game in our own hands, impose the conditions that we think necessary, and as far as we can, take off its political edge.'13

But while he conceded Ernst's right to express an opinion, Victoria did not. 'I must say I resent his conduct', she told her daughter, 'for he has no business to meddle with our affairs.'14 She had never been so willing to criticise Albert himself as she was at this period, pointing out to her daughter

that Papa was certainly not perfection, and when Ernst attacked their choice of Louis of Hesse for Alice she could not help letting off steam: 'I quite agree in your anxiety about Uncle Ernest, I love him dearly too, but his conduct to Papa has lessened my affection for him - as well as his unkindness about Louis and others.'15

Such squabbles might have counted for nothing in the immediate face of tragedy. Prince Albert's death reunited Victoria and Ernst as brother and sister, sharing a bond of grief which was theirs alone. Ernst had had some inkling of what was to come. He had watched in disbelief the previous year as his forty-one-year-old brother wept before the Coburg landscape, declaring that he would never see it again. Both Ernst and Stockmar, who had known Albert far longer than Victoria had, were alarmed by his mental state - but even foreknowledge could not lessen the blow. Ernst was shattered by his brother's death and determined, in whatever way he could, to maintain his interest in the fatherless children. It was at this point that the bond of shared grief began to give - the Queen still had an eye to the future. 'Uncle Ernest is wretched,' she told her daughter on 23 December, 'but very trying, and I must try to watch over his [i.e. Albert's] children's interests.'16

The issue of the Danish marriage was still unresolved between them. Direct argument having failed Ernst tried a new tactic, spreading gossip about the Princess and her family which could not fail to worry Victoria. His stories did reach the Queen's ears, but the Princess Royal pronounced them unfounded. Any suggestion of contact between the Prince of Wales and his uncle was more worrying. 'You did not tell me that Bertie had met Uncle Ernest at Thebes,' Victoria complained on 11 April 1862. '… I am always alarmed when I think of Uncle Ernest and Bertie being together as I know the former will do all he can to set Bertie against the marriage with Princess Alix.'17 Princess Alice was about to be married and this posed the Queen with a problem. Someone would have to play the father's role at the wedding, and who could step more naturally into Albert's shoes than his own brother, Alice's godfather - particularly as the next male relative, the King of the Belgians, was too ill to attend? Victoria felt she must invite Ernst 'as dear Papa wished it', but she was resolved forbid any mention of the Danish marriage.18 In the event, however, as her own grief and sense of helplessness took hold she was simply glad to have her brother-in-law at her side. The reprobate was, for a time, 'dear Uncle Ernest' again.

<.....Back....Next....>