As a patron, Albert, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819a "1861) successfully promoted the effectiveness of scientific institutions. For the first time, newly discovered sources in the state archives of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as well as the Royal Archives in Windsor Castle enable an authenticated account of Albert's university education and of the University of Bonn with its research and teaching from 1837 to 1838. In addition, for current research on elites, this volume reveals the significance of the university for the education of the higher aristocracy in the early 19th century.

Since the 19th century (at the latest), concern about the ability of ones own industry to compete was frequently the object of mournful glances at ones own weaknesses and the strengths of others. Using the examples of British and German debates from the recent past, this volume examines the success and failure of different strategies, from measures to increase individual motivation right up to the big reform projects such as "Thatcherism."

This richly illustrated volume is devoted to Anglo-German cultural transfer in 18th and 19th century landscape architecture, including articles on Prince Hermann Ludwig Heinrich von PA1/4ckler-Muskau and Humpry Repton, on Hermann Muthesius and the (re-)discovery of the geometric principles of gardens in England, on the birth of the English Garden in Gotha, on the park of Rosenau Castle, on the history of the Coburg Court Garden and on Prince Albert's gardens in England. nine articles on Anglo-German cultural transfer in garden culture with numerous illustrations

Band 25 der Reihe dokumentiert die Beitrage der Tagung "Geteilter Nachlass - Gemeinsames Erbe. Eine Dynastie und ihre Sammlungen in Windsor und Coburg", die 2006 in Coburg stattfand.

The elite and their social role is a question of central importance in European history. This is confirmed not least by the growing public interest in this topic. The history of Great Britain and Germany has shown in quite different ways how the elites have faced the challenges of the modern age. On 13 and 14 September 2002 the 21st conference of the Prince Albert Society took place, where historical and current aspects of the history of the elite, their survival strategies, their failures and their resistance were considered from both British and German perspectives. "Birth or Talent?," Volume 21 of the Prince Albert Studies documents the contributions that were presented at this conference.

Twelve historians from Great Britain, Germany and the United States investigate over a huge time span -- from the 16th century to the present -- the elite in the church, military, economy, diplomacy and in the educational sector. The strong current interest in this topic is also evident in the panel discussion. Starting with the historical relationships between both countries, the growing similarity in living conditions, not only in the economy but above all in the education system, is discussed.

Contrary to current popular opinion Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha did not single-handedly organize the first Great Exhibition in London 150 years ago. He was, however, convinced of the great possibilities and the value of exhibitions. For this reason he enthusiastically supported the realisation of the World Exhibition. Prince Albert played a decisive role in getting together politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and foreign governments and in convincing them of the idea of a Great Exhibition of all nations in London. He helped to unify the forces of tradition -- the monarchy and the aristocracy -- with contemporary forces -- industry, technology, the middle and lower classes -- in the idea of a World Exhibition: science and the arts were to be brought to large parts of the population. The Great Exhibition was conceived as the beginning of a long-term and ambitious strategy. In this context a number of lectures were given which were published in two volumes in 1853.

Volume 20 of the Prince Albert Studies, "The Great Exhibition and its Legacy," takes up the underlying idea of those publications and deals with the legacy of the Great Exhibition, particularly with the question in how far it was possible to realise the original intentions. In the twentieth year after its founding, the Prince Albert Society was able to gather distinguished experts from Great Britain, Germany and Overseas for a conference together with the Victorian Society and the Royal Society of Arts.

The 28 essays collected in this book deal with the following subjects: aspects of cultural history, the history of the Royal Societay of Arts, the relationship between science and the economy, the political andsocial context, the German contribution, architecture and the legacy and reception. ("1851-2001").

Since the Middle Ages the relationship between religion and politics has been one of the great themes of European politics. The path followed by European societies and states can very largely be read as a history of the forms this tense relationship took and of the problems it raised. Central to them, since the period of the Reformation at least, was the problem of how society and government dealt with religious and confessional pluralism. Even today -- especially in respect of the increasing number of Muslim fellow-citizens in the European Union -- this theme has considerable significance, even if it manifests itself in various different ways in each particular country.

The Prince Albert Society (Coburg) and The Centre for the History of Religions, Inter-Faith Dialogue and Pluralism (Leicester) address the history of the problematic relationship between religion and politics and the treatment of religious pluralism in politics, state and society. Taking Britain and Germany as examples, both historical and contemporary aspects of this theme are discussed. Five areas of interest offer a comparative perspective from a British and a German point of view. The themes are defined by various epochs which range from the period of the Reformation up to the present: state and church, tolerance and politics, colonialism and mission, totalitarianism and antisemitism, and co-existence today. Two essays present a historical survey over a long period of the past and offer the prospect on probable future developments in the 21st century.

Die Prinz-Albert-Gesellschaft hat sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, die britisch-deutschen Beziehungen in Wissenschaft, Kultur und Politik zu pflegen. Alljahrlich finden unter dieser Pramisse Tagungen statt, deren Beitrage in den Prinz-Albert-Studien veroeffentlicht werden und die viele interessante Aspekte der britisch-deutschen Beziehungen verdeutlichen.

Within Europe Great Britain and Germany are leading the way when it comes to environmental-historical debates. This volume documents the first explicit exchange between German and British environmental historians concerning their respective topics and methods, which took place at the 24th meeting of the Prince Albert Society under the heading "Environment and History in Britain and Germany." Articles by one renowned German and one renowned British environmental historian are included in each case on each of the following subjects: "Environmental Historiography," "Resources and Sustainability," "The Challenges of Industrialization and Urbanization," as well as "Protecting the Environment." The book provides a fascinating insight into two scientific cultures and documents the central importance of environmental history for the understanding of modern societies.

Volume 23 of the series deals with the political memoirs from German and British perspectives. Among the individuals whose memoirs are considered here, in context of the tradition of the political memoir-literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, are Disraeli, Gladstone and Churchill on the British side, and Bismarck, Adenauer and Heuss on the German.