A Biography of Her Beloved Prince Albert, The Early Years of the Prince Consort, Compiled under the Direction of Her Majesty the Queen, Signed and Inscribed by Her to Viscount Sydney

Prince Albert, beloved husband of Queen Victoria, died at 10:50 p.m. on December 14, 1861 in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle, in the presence of the Queen and five of their nine children. The Queen's grief was overwhelming, and she was inconsolable. Victoria wore black in mourning for the rest of her long life, and Albert’s rooms in all their houses were kept as they had been, even with hot water brought in the morning, and linen and towels changed daily. Moreover, Victoria withdrew from public life. Albert is credited with introducing the principle that the British Royal Family should remain above politics and with helping avert a war with the United States over the Trent Affair.

"In recollection of former happy days, from Victoria R, Sept. 1867."

After some years of inactivity, Victoria determined that it was necessary to immortalize Albert’s life, and starting in the late 1860s and through the 1870s, commissioned books and memorials to him. Perhaps the first effort was the book The Early Years of the Prince Consort, Compiled under the Direction of Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen commissioned Grey, who had been secretary to both Albert and herself, as her husband's biographer. It was originally written for private circulation among the Royal Family by Lieutenant-General Charles Grey, and was first published in 1867. It details Prince Albert's life from his birth in 1819 through to his wedding to Queen Victoria and the first year of their married life. The Queen was so pleased with the book that it was granted a wider publication, so that all who read it would 'tend to a better and higher appreciation of Prince Albert's great character'. Sourced from letters and memoranda, the book traces the development of Albert from an intelligent and gentle boy to the intellectual and moral compass of a nation. It records Albert's first visits to England, the wedding, his love for his adopted country, and life in London, and includes details such as an attempted assassination of the Queen. In her continuing efforts, in 1871 the Royal Albert Hall was opened, and soon after came the five volume set, The Life of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort.

One of the early copies printed for private circulation, signed and inscribed: “To Viscount Sydney, in recollection of former happy days, from Victoria R, Sept. 1867.” The recipient, John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney (known as Viscount Sydney between 1831 and 1874), was a Liberal Party politician and grandson of the man for whom Sydney, Australia is named. In a ministerial career spanning over 30 years, he was twice Lord Chamberlain of the Household (overseeing the departments that support and provide advice to the  Queen) and twice Lord Steward of the Household, at the Queen’s personal appointment. In these posts Sydney often attended Prince Albert, and Sydney thus had an intimate connection with both the Queen and her departed Consort.

A search of public sale records going back 40 years turns up only one other example of this book signed by Victoria, and that was 35 years ago.