A second son for the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld

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 August 26, 1819

The Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld was safely delivered of a second son this morning at Schloss Rosenau, near Coburg.

The infant prince's paternal grandmother, Auguste, the Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld, noted in her diary:  "I had no suspicion that Louise who was still so bright and well yesterday evening would be confined this morning, and went to bed quite unconcernedly.  At 7 a groom rode over bringing me the news that she had been safely delivered  at 6 of a son.  Thank God, that the dreaded hour is now over and that a healthy little boy has been born.  I hurried here, and found mother and child as well as possible, and Ernst overjoyed."

The new prince was delivered by Charlotte von Siebold, the German obstetrician, who also delivered his first cousin,  Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, who was born at Kensington Palace on May 24.  

It was in early August that von Siebold had arrived at Rosenau having left Kensington Palace a few weeks after "the little May flower" was born.

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The christening was scheduled to take place on the 28th.  When Augusta arrived at Rosenau, she found that the plans had been changed as the Duke of Gotha (Louise's father) wanted to attend.  This meant that the ceremony would not take place for another three weeks.  Augusta was leaving for Prague on September 3 and would be "content myself with praying from a distance for the dear little boy, who is a very pretty child.  Ernest wishes him to be given the old Saxon name of Albert."

Albert was baptized with the names Albrecht Franz August Karl Emanuel.  The Court pastor baptized Albert with water from the River Itze in a silver bowl that was "used every day in the house."

The  baptism took place in the Marble Hall at Schloss Rosenau.

Albert's godparents were the Emperor Franz I of Austria. Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen, the Duke of Gotha and the Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld.

In Napoleonic Days - extracts from the private diary of Augusta, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld, Queen Victoria's Maternal grandmother (1806-1821)


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