Victoria: Why Giving Albert a Title was Actually a Big Deal

The negotiations for Victoria and Albert’s wedding included issues about giving him a title of his own on this week’s episode. Why did it matter so much?

A royal wedding took place on this week’s episode of Victoria, but it didn’t come without major roadblocks. (Not sure what we’re talking about? Check out our recap.) In particular, the would-be husband, Albert, wanted things like a title of his own. Unfortunately, he had to settle for a membership in the Order of the Garter. But why on earth did Parliament refuse to confer him a title?

Well, it has to do with precedent and tradition, as so many of these things do. England and the later Great Britain haven’t had that many queens regnant. If you remember from the episode, Mary Tudor got name-checked in what almost seemed like a throwaway line. However, her case is actually pretty important because her husband did get a title, and it was a big one.

Her biography on Westminster Abbey’s website notes that her marriage to Philip II of Spain actually resulted in his taking the position of king consort. In fact, documents then had to have both her and his names on them. The marriage was not a happy one, though, since Mary was already in her late thirties when they wed and didn’t have any children.

Her sister, Elizabeth, didn’t marry. Queen Anne didn’t have any children either. Basically, Victoria’s Parliament had only one case of precedent, and as the precedent ended with Philip heading back to the continent and Mary dying childless in 1558, you could understand why they might be shy about giving Albert a title at all.

To make a long story short, Victoria and Albert got married in 1840. Albert did not receive the title of prince consort — and not king consort, as Philip II did — until 1857. (The current Prince Philip didn’t get that title until 1957, years after Elizabeth II’s coronation.)

Influence on a monarch is a very powerful thing, especially when it comes to marriage. It’s not very nice, but both sides had a case.

Next: Victoria and Albert's Courtship: A Guide

Victoria airs Sundays on PBS.