34. Prince Albert was so distraught by his son’s affair with a common actress Victoria said he died from a broken heart
According to Queen Victoria, Edward was partly responsible for her husband’s death. The Queen and Prince Albert had found out about their son’s inappropriate affair with the Irish actress Nellie Clifden. According to Palace insiders, they were more than dismayed. Prince Albert was particularly disappointed and would lament his son’s “fall” to close friends and advisors. When Albert passed away soon afterwards, Victoria claimed that he had died of a broken heart, “killed by that dreadful business”. While Albert had actually died from typhoid fever, the young Prince still felt responsible and felt it was time to grow up and be a respectable royal.
