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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
In October 1835 the young Princess Victoria and her mother,
the Duchess of Kent, passed through Dover and stayed at the
Royal Ship Hotel on Custom House Quay.
Less than five years later, on Thursday 6 February, 1840,
Dover welcomed the future husband of their young Queen,
who was to be married the following Monday. At about 4:20,
Her Majesty’s packet ‘Ariel’, convoyed by HMS ‘Firebrand’,
arrived in the bay, after a rough crossing. The ship was
decorated with the Royal Standard and onboard was the young
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. On entering the harbour
they were saluted by the cutters ‘Vigilant’ and ‘Victoria’ and
there was loud cheering from the large crowds gathered on the
quays. Prince Albert was welcomed by the Commander of the
Garrison, and with a Guard of Honour provided by the 90th
Light Infantry was escorted to the York Hotel. At the hotel he
was greeted by the Mayor and other local dignitaries and a
special deputation sent by the Queen.
There were further lively scenes the following morning, when
shortly after 10 o’clock two troops of the 11th Light Dragoons,
and a Guard of Honour of the 90th Light Infantry, drew up in
front of the hotel. The Prince was addressed by the Mayor, who
was accompanied by the Aldermen and Members of the
Corporation in their robes. The Prince made a speech in
answer, and at 11:30 left Dover with his suite in seven
carriages. He was escorted out of the town by the two troops
of Dragoons, and a Royal salute was fired from the batteries.
The Prince appeared to be delighted at his reception, and vast
crowds cheered him as he drove along the streets.
On 14 November, 1842, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria
visited Dover while staying as guests of the Lord Warden of the
Cinque Ports, The Duke of Wellington, at Walmer Castle. Only
short notice of the visit was given but there was sufficient time
to decorate the town with a considerable number of flags, and
the Deal Road and Castle Hill were lined with a multitude of
people. At 3:00 pm the Royal couple drove into the Castle via
the Constable’s Gate, and were shown around the Castle. On
leaving the Castle their carriage went down Castle Hill into the
town and along Castle Street into the Market Square. Their
open carriage was drawn by four beautiful bays, and from the
Market Square they trotted on through King Street, Bench
Street and Snargate Street towards the harbour. They passed
along the Sea Front by Waterloo Crecent and Marine Parade
and through Woolcomber Street, to Castle Hill. As their
carriage ascended the hill out of the town a Royal salute was
fired from the Castle.
the Duchess of Kent, passed through Dover and stayed at the
Royal Ship Hotel on Custom House Quay.
Less than five years later, on Thursday 6 February, 1840,
Dover welcomed the future husband of their young Queen,
who was to be married the following Monday. At about 4:20,
Her Majesty’s packet ‘Ariel’, convoyed by HMS ‘Firebrand’,
arrived in the bay, after a rough crossing. The ship was
decorated with the Royal Standard and onboard was the young
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. On entering the harbour
they were saluted by the cutters ‘Vigilant’ and ‘Victoria’ and
there was loud cheering from the large crowds gathered on the
quays. Prince Albert was welcomed by the Commander of the
Garrison, and with a Guard of Honour provided by the 90th
Light Infantry was escorted to the York Hotel. At the hotel he
was greeted by the Mayor and other local dignitaries and a
special deputation sent by the Queen.
There were further lively scenes the following morning, when
shortly after 10 o’clock two troops of the 11th Light Dragoons,
and a Guard of Honour of the 90th Light Infantry, drew up in
front of the hotel. The Prince was addressed by the Mayor, who
was accompanied by the Aldermen and Members of the
Corporation in their robes. The Prince made a speech in
answer, and at 11:30 left Dover with his suite in seven
carriages. He was escorted out of the town by the two troops
of Dragoons, and a Royal salute was fired from the batteries.
The Prince appeared to be delighted at his reception, and vast
crowds cheered him as he drove along the streets.
On 14 November, 1842, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria
visited Dover while staying as guests of the Lord Warden of the
Cinque Ports, The Duke of Wellington, at Walmer Castle. Only
short notice of the visit was given but there was sufficient time
to decorate the town with a considerable number of flags, and
the Deal Road and Castle Hill were lined with a multitude of
people. At 3:00 pm the Royal couple drove into the Castle via
the Constable’s Gate, and were shown around the Castle. On
leaving the Castle their carriage went down Castle Hill into the
town and along Castle Street into the Market Square. Their
open carriage was drawn by four beautiful bays, and from the
Market Square they trotted on through King Street, Bench
Street and Snargate Street towards the harbour. They passed
along the Sea Front by Waterloo Crecent and Marine Parade
and through Woolcomber Street, to Castle Hill. As their
carriage ascended the hill out of the town a Royal salute was
fired from the Castle.
