Officially titled the Prince Consort National Memorial. The Albert Prince Consort Statue celebrates Victorian achievement and Prince Albert’s passions. We are standing before one of London’s most ornate monuments. This is the Albert Prince Consort Statue in Kensington Gardens. It commemorates the death of Prince Albert.
Prince Albert died of typhoid in 1861. Queen Victoria commissioned this towering tribute to her beloved husband. The Albert Prince Consort Statue is one of London’s most spectacular landmarks. It glitters with bright mosaics and gold leaf. Gemstones add to its beauty.
The Albert Prince Consort Statue was unveiled in 1872. Albert was Queen Victoria’s husband. He died at the young age of 42. The Albert Prince Consort Statue is influenced by 13th-century Eleanor Crosses. Charing Cross is perhaps the most famous. Other statues in Edinburgh and Manchester also served as inspiration. The Albert Prince Consort Statue is a grand high-Victorian gothic extravaganza.
Look closely. The memorial shows Prince Albert holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition. This exhibition was held in Hyde Park in 1851. Albert inspired and helped to organise it. Marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America stand at each corner. Higher up, you’ll see figures representing manufacture, commerce, agriculture and engineering. Near the top are gilded bronze statues of angels and virtues.
All around the base is the Parnassus frieze. It depicts celebrated painters, poets, sculptors, musicians and architects. This reflects Albert’s enthusiasm for the arts. There are 169 exquisitely carved figures in the frieze.
The Albert Prince Consort Statue faced mockery before its unveiling. Some sneered that it was boastful and fussy. Yet, Queen Victoria adored it. The 176-foot-high homage honoured her late husband. She followed its progress closely after Albert’s premature death. Victoria herself paid a large part of the 120,000-pound bill. That’s almost 10 million pounds today.
The Albert Prince Consort Statue remains one of Britain’s best-known monuments. It is recognisable even after a century and a half. Special tours mark its 150th birthday this month. Engineers inspect the structure thoroughly. They ensure the edifice is good for another generation.
The Albert Prince Consort Statue is in very solid shape. It is ready for all the 21st century can throw at it. The ornate artwork depicts every aspect of human genius. It also shows Victorian progress.
Just as striking is the part of the Albert Prince Consort Statue no one sees. Tucked away below ground is a vast vaulted labyrinth. It stretches endlessly into the gloom. This underground maze is a monument to technical rigour. It shows the pride of Victorian engineering. The foundations are in astonishing shape.
Those scrupulous Victorian engineers took no chances. They were building a giant monument above a layer of London clay. They dug down until they found gravel. Then they sunk 17 feet of concrete. This gave stability in perpetuity.
Next, they built a series of brick arches. There are more than 800 of them. A solid square pillar supports the statue above. This all looks as if it could have been built recently. Yet, this brickwork dates back to 1872.
Prince Albert sits above gleaming in the sunshine. He is covered in 23-carat gold leaf. Albert said he did not want a memorial to himself. However, this is quite something.
The Albert Prince Consort Statue was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. He was the man behind classic Victorian edifices. These include St Pancras railway station hotel. He also designed the Foreign Office.
Scott favoured a vast canopy in the Gothic tradition. This proved so popular in the Victorian era. The memorial honoured the Great Exhibition. Albert created it in neighbouring Hyde Park. It celebrated British imperialism and human ingenuity.
The Albert Prince Consort Statue has depictions of the four great continents. “Africa” includes a near-naked black African tribesman. He is receiving “knowledge” from a white female creature. She depicts “European civilisation”. “Asia” features a bare-breasted maiden. She is astride a fabulously detailed recumbent elephant. “America” includes a Native American chief. “Europe” depicts Germany as a peaceful nation.
We have reached the end of our visit to the Albert Prince Consort Statue. Take with you the memory of this grand monument. Remember Prince Albert’s legacy. Reflect on Victorian achievements.