A statue of Albert, Prince Consort stands in the grounds of Balmoral Castle. It was based on a sculpture by William Theed and was unveiled in 1867.
Unveiling
The statue was unveiled at 11:15 am on 15 October 1867 in a ceremony attended by Queen Victoria and her family, accompanied by her friend Jane Loftus, Marchioness of Ely. [1] All the servants and tenants of the Balmoral Estate were present, as well as a detachment of the 93rd Highlanders. [1] The date was the 28th anniversary of the engagement of Albert and Queen Victoria. Victoria described the weather as "distressing rain, which twice had given hopes of ceasing". [1] Two verses of the Psalm 100 were sung by the assembled gathering, and a prayer offered by a Mr. Taylor. The cover shrouding the statue was caught as it was removed, a similar occurrence had happened during the unveiling of the statue of Albert in Aberdeen. [1] After pipes were played by the Highlanders, a speech by a Dr. Robertson thanked Victoria for the statue on behalf of the Balmoral tenants and servants. [1] The ceremony concluded with the singing of " God Save the Queen", "sung extremely well" according to Victoria. [1]
Victoria described the unveiling in her 1884 book More Leaves From the Journal of a Life in the Highlands which covered her time in Scotland from 1862 to 1882. [1]
The unveiling of the statue was photographed by W. & D. Downey. [2] It depicts Victoria and her family under umbrellas on the rainy day of the unveiling. To the right of the statue is a Highland regiment of soldiers. [3]
Description
The statue depicts Albert dressed in plaid with a kilt. He has one hand on his dog and holds a rifle in his other hand. [2] It stands on a rocky pedestal of granite. The statue is cast in bronze and is based on an 1862 marble statue of Albert by William Theed that stands in Balmoral. [2] it was cast in bronze by Elkingtons of Birmingham. [2] The statue is inscribed 'Albert Scot 1867'. [2]
The statue has been listed Category A by Historic Environment Scotland since March 2010. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Queen Victoria (1884). More Leaves From the Journal of a Life in the Highlands, from 1862 to 1882. Smith, Elder. p. 103.
- ^ a b c d e f Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle, Statue of Prince Albert (Category A Listed Building) (LB51494)". Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Unveiling of the statue to the Prince Consort, Balmoral estate 15 Oct 1867". Royal Collection Trust. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- 1867 establishments in Scotland
- 1867 sculptures
- Bronze sculptures
- Category A listed buildings in Aberdeenshire
- Listed monuments and memorials in Scotland
- Monuments and memorials to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Outdoor sculptures in Scotland
- Sculptures of men in the United Kingdom
- Statues in Scotland
A statue of Albert, Prince Consort stands in the grounds of Balmoral Castle. It was based on a sculpture by William Theed and was unveiled in 1867.
Unveiling
The statue was unveiled at 11:15 am on 15 October 1867 in a ceremony attended by Queen Victoria and her family, accompanied by her friend Jane Loftus, Marchioness of Ely. [1] All the servants and tenants of the Balmoral Estate were present, as well as a detachment of the 93rd Highlanders. [1] The date was the 28th anniversary of the engagement of Albert and Queen Victoria. Victoria described the weather as "distressing rain, which twice had given hopes of ceasing". [1] Two verses of the Psalm 100 were sung by the assembled gathering, and a prayer offered by a Mr. Taylor. The cover shrouding the statue was caught as it was removed, a similar occurrence had happened during the unveiling of the statue of Albert in Aberdeen. [1] After pipes were played by the Highlanders, a speech by a Dr. Robertson thanked Victoria for the statue on behalf of the Balmoral tenants and servants. [1] The ceremony concluded with the singing of " God Save the Queen", "sung extremely well" according to Victoria. [1]
Victoria described the unveiling in her 1884 book More Leaves From the Journal of a Life in the Highlands which covered her time in Scotland from 1862 to 1882. [1]
The unveiling of the statue was photographed by W. & D. Downey. [2] It depicts Victoria and her family under umbrellas on the rainy day of the unveiling. To the right of the statue is a Highland regiment of soldiers. [3]
Description
The statue depicts Albert dressed in plaid with a kilt. He has one hand on his dog and holds a rifle in his other hand. [2] It stands on a rocky pedestal of granite. The statue is cast in bronze and is based on an 1862 marble statue of Albert by William Theed that stands in Balmoral. [2] it was cast in bronze by Elkingtons of Birmingham. [2] The statue is inscribed 'Albert Scot 1867'. [2]
The statue has been listed Category A by Historic Environment Scotland since March 2010. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Queen Victoria (1884). More Leaves From the Journal of a Life in the Highlands, from 1862 to 1882. Smith, Elder. p. 103.
- ^ a b c d e f Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle, Statue of Prince Albert (Category A Listed Building) (LB51494)". Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Unveiling of the statue to the Prince Consort, Balmoral estate 15 Oct 1867". Royal Collection Trust. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- 1867 establishments in Scotland
- 1867 sculptures
- Bronze sculptures
- Category A listed buildings in Aberdeenshire
- Listed monuments and memorials in Scotland
- Monuments and memorials to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Outdoor sculptures in Scotland
- Sculptures of men in the United Kingdom
- Statues in Scotland