Albert had been groomed to be Victoria's consort but they only met when they were both 17. It's a good thing that despite being an arranged marriage, the two were smitten with one another. In a letter to her uncle Leopold, Victoria wrote, "[Albert] possesses every quality, that could be desired to render me perfectly happy. He is so sensible, so kind, and so good, and so amiable too. He has besides, the most pleasing and delightful exterior and appearance, you can possibly see." Soon Victoria became Queen. But the story takes a twist, where Victoria becomes infatuated with someone else: Tsar Nicholas' son Alexander. This passes and on February 10, 1840 Victoria & Albert are married. Theirs was a great love. Albert unexpectedly passed away on December 14, 1861 and Victoria spent the rest of her 40 year reign clothed in black, mourning.
Kensington Palace