Albert, Prince Consort cousins, brothers King Pedro V of Portugal and Prince Ferdinand, died of typhoid fever within 5 days of each other in early November. On top of this news, Albert was informed that gossip was spreading in gentlemen's clubs and the foreign press that the Prince of Wales was still involved with Nellie Clifden. Albert and Victoria were horrified by their son's indiscretion, and feared blackmail, scandal or pregnancy. Although Albert was ill and at a low ebb, he travelled to Cambridge to see the Prince of Wales on 25 November to discuss his son's indiscreet affair. In his final weeks
Prince consort title was awarded to him in 1857 by his wife, Queen Victoria (reigned 1837–1901). In 2005, Prince Henrik, the spouse of Margrethe II of Denmark, was awarded the title, but in 2016, he announced that he objected to it and would not be using it. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (prince consort of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms) is a "Prince of the United Kingdom" but is not titled as "Prince Consort". The distinction between the title of prince consort and king is very important in the British "patriarchal" hierarchical system. Within this hierarchy,