Prince Alfred of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Prince Alfred of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Alfred Alexander William Ernest Albert) (October 15, 1874 – July 6, 1899) was a member of the British Royal Family. He was born at Buckingham Palace, London.
His father was Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, second eldest son of Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. His mother was Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, a daughter of Alexander II of Russia and Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. He was baptised in the Lower Bow Room of Buckingham Palace November 27, 1874 by Archibald Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury and his godparents were Queen Victoria, the Tsar of Russia, the Emperor and Crown Princess of Germany, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and the Prince of Wales.
In 1893, his great-uncle, Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, brother of his paternal grandfather, died without heirs. The Prince of Wales had renounced his claim to the ducal throne of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, therefore the vacant duchy fell to Alfred's father, the Duke of Edinburgh. Alfred therefore became styled HRH The Hereditary Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Prince Alfred lived in Clarence House in the early years of his life with his parents and sisters. After his father's accession to the ducal throne of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, he moved to Schloss Rosenau at Coburg.
In 1899, Alfred became involved in a scandal with a mistress, which greatly upset his parents. In late June he attempted suicide by shooting himself, during his parents' 25th wedding anniversary celebrations. He succeeding only in wounding himself and was sent to Meran to recover. However he died two weeks later, of his injuries, on July 6, 1899. He was buried at Friedenstein, near Gotha.
His death meant the Dukedom of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha would pass to his uncle, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. However the Duke of Connaught renounced the Duchy on behalf of himself and his only son, Prince Arthur of Connaught. Therefore the Dukedom passed to Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany (later Carl Eduard).
Styles and Titles
- His Royal Highness Prince Alfred of Edinburgh (1874-1893)
- His Royal Highness The Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1893-1899)
