Prince Albert's carriage accident - 1st October 1860

On 1st October 1860, Prince Albert narrowly escaped death whilst travelling from Coburg. Albert was understandably shanked up but managed to escape with a few superficial injuries.

Prince Albert driving his favourites © National Portrait Gallery, London

The Prince was traveling back from buisness he had to transact, he had travelled three miles before the four horses pulling his carriage suddenly spooked and began thrashing/bucking out of control. They galloped towards a train crossing where the level crossing bar was lowered and a stationary wagon was waiting. In a bid to save himself, Albert jumped from the carriage. One of the horses died on inpact and the rest broke free to continued their progress into the town of Coburg where they were seen by Col. Ponsonby the Prince's Equerry who had been in attendance in the earlier part of the day.

The coachman was thrown from the carriage and was considerbly hurt. Queen Victoria blamed the footman, writing in her journal: "The footman had jumped off & foolishly forgotten the drag, which, had it been let down, might have prevented the whole mischief"

The Prince immediately devoted his attention to the coachman, who was conveyed to the Lodge of the Railway worker. Colonel Ponsonby immediately procured a carriage & securing the services of Dr Baly & Dr Carl Florchütz, he proceeded with them to meet Prince Albert who was still in the railway workers cottagen, Albert directed the attention of the Medical Gentlemen to the coachman & desired Col: Ponsonby & continue the route to meet H.M. The Queen, who was at that time on her return to Coburg in order to inform her Majesty of what had taken place.

A detailed account of the incident:

At a little before 5 o'clock, the Pce Consort having some business to transact, took leave of the party & entered a carriage to proceed alone to Coburg — After H.R.H. had gone about 3 miles, the horses which were driven pain-in-hand, commenced kicking violently, — shortly started off a full speed — The coachman assisted by H.R.H. did everything in his power to arrest the progress of the frightened animals, but wittered effect. At about the distance of a mile from Coburg the road from Kallenberg crossed the Railway at a level, & upon approaching this spot the Prince Consort observed that the bar which is lowered to prevent carriages crossing the line when a Train is expected, was closed preparatory to the arrival of the Train due at Coburg at 5 o'clock. A waggon which had been stopped by the Bar, was also standing upon the Road. A violent concussion being then inevitable; H.R.H. jumped from the carriage & fell to the ground. Though receiving some superficial cuts and bruises in the face, he was not at all stunned or seriously hurt shortly proceeded to assist the coachman. The carriage had in the meantime come into collision with the Bar of the Railway & was upset, the coachman being dashed to the ground & considerably hurt. H.R.H. immediately devoted his attention to this man, who was conveyed the Lodge of the Railway servant, who has charge of the Bar. The horses having thus freed themselves from the carriage, continued their career into the Town of Coburg's were there seen by Col. Ponsonby the Prince's Equerry who had been in attendance in the earlier part of the day. The Colonel immediately procured a carriage & securing the services of Dr Baly & Dr Carl Florchütz, he proceeded with them to meet H.R.H. The Prince who was still in the small cottage directed the attention of the Medical Gentlemen to the coachman & desired Col: Ponsonby & continue the route to meet H.M. The Queen, who was at that time on her return to Coburg in order to inform her Majesty of what had taken place. —

Queen Victoria's Journal:

"A little rain early, later became very fine. After breakfast our Princes & Alexander started to shoot at the Kallenberg. I busy writing. Received a very good long interesting letter from Affie, from the Cape, where he had met with a most gratifying reception & had to make an extempore speech at a dinner. Heard also from Bertie & from the Duke of Newcastle, from Toronto, where everything had gone off well. — At 1, drove with Vicky, Alexandrine driving Alice in the next carriage, to the Kallenberg, which is quite beautiful now. We walked round the hill on which stands the Castle, high up; we visited Ernest's very fine new stables & the foals. Then went through the rooms at the Castle, Alexandrine's being the smallest, & so pretty, with glorious views from the windows. We lunched at ½ p. 2 in the pretty wood panelled dining room, after which we sat on the upper terrace, & Vicky & I began to sketch. Our husbands soon joined us, & then Albert said he must go back to Coburg, having people to see, leaving me to follow. We walked down through the wood to the Park, expecting our carriages to overtake us, when we met a 2 seated carriage, with Col: Ponsonby in it, who told us Albert had sent him to say he had had an accident with the carriage, but was not hurt, having only scratched his nose, which Dr Baily whom he happened to meet, said was of no consequence! This prevented my being much startled or frightened. Col: Ponsonby explained that the horses had run away & Albert had jumped out! Drove back with Alice, Col: Ponsonby sitting on the box, & were told by an excited postman not to pass by where the carriage still was, one of the horses being seriously hurt, as also the coachman, so we drove another way. Went at once to dear Albert's room, where I found him lying on the bed with lint compresses on his nose, mouth & chin, & good old Stockmar (who I so dreaded might be alarmed) & Dr Baily standing by him. He was quite cheerful talked & gave me an account of the really fearful accident & as it turned out, providential escape! 'Dr Baily assured me that dear Albert had not been the least stunned & that there was no injury to the features. How deeply thankful I am!"

Queen, V., Benson, A.C. and Baliol, R. (1907). The Letters of Queen Victoria. A Selection from Her Majesty’s Correspondence Between the Years 1837 and 1861.

Victoria, Q. (1860). Monday 1st october 1860. Queen Victoria's journals - princess beatrice's copies (pp. 275) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/archive

Prince, Arthur. (1860). Letter from Prince Arthur to Prince Albert. Prince Arthur expresses his regret on hearing that Prince Albert was hurt. He writes that Lenchen [Princess Helena] laid the foundation stone of his barrack and mentions that Princess Beatrice questioned everything that was going on.