Royalty Digest

An important international question involved them both in the early years of the Queen's widowhood. The Greek people needed a sovereign and were keen to have someone close to Victoria and Britain. Their first choice was Prince Alfred, but his candidature was ruled out by international agreement. The great powers were not supposed to be directly involved so when Alfred's name was raised, at the start of 1862, the British government suggested that Ernst might be an acceptable compromise: if he were to take the throne of Greece, Alfred could succeed immediately in Coburg. The Queen was very taken with this idea; 'If Uncle E accepts I see nothing to regret in it!' she told her daughter, but as the months passed her enthusiasm waned. By January 1863 she still believed that Ernst would accept Greece, but doubted that it would be for the best. Then she heard that he was raising impossible conditions and she began, privately, to think of other candidates. There was no certain news, and rumours were rife. On 28 January, despite reports to the contrary, Victoria assured the Princess Royal that it was 'more than ever likely (between ourselves) that Uncle E will go to Greece - but retaining (for some time at least) the entire sovereignty of the Duchies, providing his Chambers agree…. Poor Aunt Alexandrine is almost frantic, and angry with me, who am utterly innocent about it! It is rather hard.'19

In the event it was Ernst's desire to accept Greece and yet keep Coburg which proved the stumbling block. Coburg would not accept this, and Coburg was the safer throne. He declined Greece, but at the same time began to push for closer involvement in the life of his heir. In February 1863 he told the Queen that the people of Coburg needed to see more of Alfred. She was sympathetic, though concerned for her son. At the turn of the year Ernst declared that it was time for Alfred to leave the navy and enter a German university. The Queen showed that Alfred the letter, half expecting him to request more time in the navy. She was amazed to be told that he did not want to go to Coburg at all - and he went on to write a formal renunciation of his claim. This needed delicate handling. The Queen and her advisers agreed that pressure on Alfred could not help and, before saying anything to Ernst, Victoria decided to consult her uncle Leopold. He was inclined to feel that Prince Arthur, who was still young enough to receive all or part of his education in Coburg, might be a better choice in the long run, but advised that Alfred should have time to re-think. By March all parties had agreed that Alfred would attend Bonn University but be left free to consider his future, at least until he came of age. His alternative to Coburg was to be a permanent position at his mother's side, working as her confidential secretary and devoting himself to her needs.

Prince Albert

Not surprisingly, perhaps, the attractions of this scheme paled very quickly and by May Alfred was reconciled to Coburg. But in April the Prince of Wales had entered the argument, by-passing his mother and suggesting to the King of the Belgians that he wanted both Alfred and Arthur in England when he came to the throne, one in the navy and one in the army. His youngest brother Leopold, who was too delicate for military service, would be the best choice for Coburg. The King and Victoria were quick to stamp on this idea, but it did have one lasting result. Alfred's wavering had made all parties take the Coburg inheritance seriously, perhaps for the first time. Prince Albert had been content to hand Coburg an English prince who spoke good German. Ten years later Victoria understood and accepted that Ernst needed to have a hand in the upbringing of his heir, and, to be sure that Coburg was well provided for, she agreed that Prince Arthur's education must also have a very strong German element and must include (carefully chaperoned) periods in Coburg.

Working first on the Greek and then on the Coburg succession had improved the understanding between Victoria and Ernst, but 1866 would see a decisive change. During Prince Albert's lifetime Ernst was perceived as a progressive within Germany. He took a close interest in the movement for reform and in 1863 attended the Frankfurt Congress, which was ostentatiously avoided by Prussia. This made him no friends in Berlin, but he had strong contacts with Austria and as tensions mounted between the northern and southern powers, many looked to him as a potential leader. He urged the King of Prussia against war with Austria and was an active advocate of the Austrian cause. No-one expected that when war broke out he would side immediately with Prussia. It was Ernst the pragmatist at work. His political judgement had always been sharp and it could be said that he was only acting in the best interests of his duchy, and of himself - nonetheless it was a betrayal of former friends. 'I must say I think Uncle E. ought never to have asked for a command', Victoria told her daughter. 'He might have agreed to neutrality - for that might be necessary, but to change colours I cannot think right.'20

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