Prince Albert, the second son of Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, by Louisa, daughter of Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Attenburg, was very nearly the same age as the Queen, having been born on August 26, 1819. Royal alliances are so often the outcome of purely political or prudential calculation that people are apt to assume that the deeper personal feelings are not allowed to weigh with the persons most concerned; but young men and women are not the less human because they are born in the purple, and Queen Victoria's marriage was as much a love match as that of any village maid. But she had set her affections on one of a disposition and habits not commonly to be found in any station of life. Not only was Prince Albert remarkably handsome and amiable, but he had sedulously cultivated natural gifts of a very high order. He had made himself a good musician, he had penetrated far in natural science, made a special study of social politics, and was well read in general literature. He was known to have steered a clear course among the temptations which peculiarly beset a young man of princely rank and fortune. All this he might have been, and yet, had there not been something to balance it, he might have proved no fitting consort of the young Queen of the English. But there was another side to his character. Erudite, he was completely without the fastidious or shy manner which sometimes imparts a blemish to learning, for his manner in society was extremely fascinating; of artistic tastes, he was soon to prove himself capable in business. Last, but not least, in view of an English public, he was an accomplished horseman, and devoted to field sports. [Illustration: _W. A. Knell._} {_From the Royal Collection._ THE LANDING OF PRINCE ALBERT AT DOVER, February 6, 1840. His Royal Highness experienced very bad weather in crossing the Channel.] [Sidenote: Announcement to Parliament.] The Queen opened Parliament in person on January 16, 1840, and her speech included the formal announcement of her betrothal to Prince Albert. Strangely enough the first criticism came from the Duke of Wellington, of all her subjects the least likely to question Her Majesty's decision. He complained that it ought to have been officially declared that Prince Albert was a Protestant, and he moved to insert the word "Protestant" in the Address in reply to the speech from the throne. Lord Melbourne thought the amendment was superfluous, but it was agreed to without a division. [Sidenote: Debates.]