Rudolph Löhlein

It was also Baron Stockmar who found Prince Albert a replacement for Dehler: Rudolph Löhlein (1827-1896). In the aforementioned letter of 11^th May 1847, in which Stockmar asked Albert to increase Dehler’s annual pension, he also wrote:

“… I have already spoken to the young Löhlein. He is a young man of very decent and pleasant appearance, 20 years old. Certainly, manners and a decent education enable him to become a personal servant for Your Royal Highness or the Prince of Wales in a suitable manner. He himself told me that he’d gladly accept the position and was ready to follow the call as soon as Your Royal Highness were pleased to have him. I therefore request, in a prompt reply in this matter, a determination of the salary, etc., as well as the time at which Löhlein will have to arrive in London. …”

On 29^th April Albert replied:

“I am very grateful to you for securing the young Löhlein. I would like to have him here in the middle of next month or at least in the second half of  it. It will be best to hire him for a trial year, his salary shall be £150, he will of course have accomodation and food for free. If he doesn’t like it here after one year or if I don’t approve of him, I want to pay him 300 fl. for 3 years […] during which time he can look for another position. But I don’t doubt that we will get on very well given what you say about him.”

Löhlein came from Niederfullbach near Coburg and was the son of the local forester William Löhlein. As a young man Rudolph worked as an employee in the treasury and tax office in Rodach (also just outside of Coburg). Later he entered the ducal House of Saxe-Coburg as footman. He then began his service with Prince Albert in London in June 1847, replacing Andreas Dehler as second valet. When Isaac Cart died in August 1858, he replaced him as 1^st valet and held this position until Albert’s death.

Three years after his arrival, on 3^rd July 1850, Löhlein married the Englishwoman Elizabeth Collins. The couple had six children who were born between 1851 and 1864. The first born son was named Albert Rudolf William (1851-1916), the second born Alice Victoria (1853-1938), then came Rudolph Charles Christian (1854-1914), Elizabeth Jane (1856 – ?), Ernest Whitfield (1858-1922) and finally Alberta Victoria (1864-1933). All of their children stayed in England.