A statue of Albert, Prince Consort stands in the grounds of Balmoral Castle. It was based on a sculpture by William Theed and was unveiled in 1867.
Unveiling
editThe statue was unveiled at 11:15 am on 15 October 1867 in a ceremony attended by Queen Victoria and her family, accompanied by her friend Jane Loftus, Marchioness of Ely.[1] All the servants and tenants of the Balmoral Estate were present, as well as a detachment of the 93rd Highlanders.[1] The date was the 28th anniversary of the engagement of Albert and Queen Victoria. Victoria described the weather as "distressing rain, which twice had given hopes of ceasing".[1] Two verses of the Psalm 100 were sung by the assembled gathering, and a prayer offered by a Mr. Taylor. The cover shrouding the statue was caught as it was removed, a similar occurrence had happened during the unveiling of the statue of Albert in Aberdeen.[1] After pipes were played by the Highlanders, a speech by a Dr. Robertson thanked Victoria for the statue on behalf of the Balmoral tenants and servants.[1] The ceremony concluded with the singing of "God Save the Queen", "sung extremely well" according to Victoria.[1]
Victoria described the unveiling in her 1884 book More Leaves From the Journal of a Life in the Highlands which covered her time in Scotland from 1862 to 1882.[1]
The unveiling of the statue was photographed by W. & D. Downey.[2] It depicts Victoria and her family under umbrellas on the rainy day of the unveiling. To the right of the statue is a Highland regiment of soldiers.[3]
Description
editThe statue depicts Albert dressed in plaid with a kilt. He has one hand on his dog and holds a rifle in his other hand.[2] It stands on a rocky pedestal of granite. The statue is cast in bronze and is based on an 1862 marble statue of Albert by William Theed that stands in Balmoral.[2] it was cast in bronze by Elkingtons of Birmingham.[2] The statue is inscribed 'Albert Scot 1867'.[2]
The statue has been listed Category A by Historic Environment Scotland since March 2010.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Queen Victoria (1884). More Leaves From the Journal of a Life in the Highlands, from 1862 to 1882. Smith, Elder. p. 103.
- ^ a b c d e f Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle, Statue of Prince Albert (Category A Listed Building) (LB51494)". Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Unveiling of the statue to the Prince Consort, Balmoral estate 15 Oct 1867". Royal Collection Trust. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 20 April 2023.