Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel; later The Prince Consort; 26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861) is the husband of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

He was born in the Saxon duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld to a family connected to many of Europe's ruling monarchs.

At the age of 20, he marries his first cousin, Queen Victoria, with whom he will ultimately have nine children.

At first, Albert feels constrained by his position as consort, which does not confer any power or duties upon him.

Over time he adopts many public causes, such as educational reform and a worldwide abolition of slavery, and takes on the responsibilities of running the Queen's household, estates and office.

He is heavily involved with the organization of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Albert aids in the development of Britain's constitutional monarchy by persuading his wife to show less partisanship in her dealings with Parliament—although he actively disagrees with the interventionist foreign policy pursued during Lord Palmerston's tenure as Foreign Secretary.

He dies at the early age of 42, plunging the Queen into a deep mourning that lasts for the rest of her life.

Upon Queen Victoria's death in 1901, their eldest son, Edward VII, succeeds as the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, named after the ducal house to which Albert belonged.