Prince Albert’s father was Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Quick Scoop

  • The Prince Albert in question is Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the husband of Queen Victoria.
  • His officially recognized father was Ernest III , Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who later became Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
  • His mother was Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

A Tiny Bit of Background

Prince Albert was born in 1819 at Schloss Rosenau near Coburg, in what is now Germany. He was the second son of Ernest and Louise, in a marriage that became notoriously unhappy and ended in separation and divorce.

Because of that turbulent marriage and Albert’s strong resemblance to his mother, some later writers and royal-watchers have speculated about whether Ernest was truly his biological father, with occasional theories pointing to relatives such as King Leopold I of Belgium or other men at court. However, these ideas remain speculative; historically and legally, Albert’s father is recorded as Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

So if you’re answering “who was Prince Albert’s father?” for quick reference or a forum reply, the accepted answer is: Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.