- Prince Alberta died at age 42
- He was Queen Victoria's husband
- Learn more about the tragic death below
Queen Victoria was utterly devastated when her husband Prince Albert died in 1861 at the age of 42.
Famously, after her husband's death, the Queen is said to have mourned and worn black for the remainder of her life — which was nearly 40 more years. This is an often-repeated story, but what was it that actually caused Prince Albert to die relatively young?
Prince Albert: Cause of death at age 42?
A quick refresher: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were first cousins, married in 1840 when they were both 21 years old. They loved each other dearly and had nine children together between 1840 and 1857.
As consort, Prince Albert worked closely with his wife and is remembered for supporting social, artistic, cultural, and military causes in the UK. But his life was not a long one.
Albert's health began to decline while he was just a young man in his 30s. In the 1850s, he "became increasingly tired and suffered bouts of ill health," the official website of the Royal Family says.
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Albert then contracted typhoid fever and died from the disease on Dec. 14, 1861. The Queen and five children were by his side when he passed at Windsor Castle. He was laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, where his body remains today.
The loss of her beloved husband shook Queen Victoria. And it's not just a legend — the Queen truly mourned and wore black for the rest of her days.
Queen Victoria lived another 39 years after her husband's death, passing on herself at the age of 81 in early 1901.
You can click here to learn the story of how a young Queen Victoria proposed to Prince Albert before their wedding.
