No doubt, as is the case _now_--the Queen _can_ give her husband the
highest _place_ by _placing_ him _always near her person_, and the
Nation would give it him as a _matter of course_. Still, when I first
married, we had much difficulty on this subject; much bad feeling was
shown, and several members of the Royal Family showed bad grace
in giving precedence to the Prince, and the late King of Hanover
positively resisted doing so. I gave the Prince precedence by issuing
Letters Patent, but these give no rank in Parliament--or at the
Council Board--and it would be far better to put this question beyond
all doubt, and to secure its settlement for _all future Consorts of
Queens_, and thus have this omission in the Constitution rectified.
Naturally my own feeling would be to give the Prince the same title
and rank as I have, but a Titular King is a complete novelty in
this country, and might be productive of more inconveniences than
advantages to the individual who bears it. Therefore, upon mature
reflection, and after considering the question for nearly _sixteen
years_, I have come to the conclusion that the title which is now by
universal consent given him of "Prince Consort," with the highest rank
in and out of Parliament immediately after the Queen, and before every
other Prince of the Royal Family, should be the one assigned to the
husband of the Queen regnant _once and for all_. This ought to be done
before our children grow up, and it seems peculiarly easy to do so
_now_ that none of the old branches of the Royal Family are still
alive.

The present position is this: that while every British subject, down
to the Knight, Bachelor, Doctor, and Esquire, has a rank and position
by _Law_, the Queen's husband alone has one by _favour_--and by his
wife's favour, who may grant it or not! When granted as in the present
case, it does not extend to Parliament and the Council, and the
children may deny the position which their mother has given to their
father as a usurpation over them, having the law on their side; or if
they waive their rights in his favour, he will hold a position granted
by the forbearance of his children. In both cases this is a position
most derogatory to the Queen as well as to her husband, and most
dangerous to the peace and well-being of her family. If the children
resist, the Queen will have her husband pushed away from her side by
her children, and they will take precedence over the man whom she is
bo