Hundreds turn out to mark 150th anniversary of Wolverhampton's Prince Albert statue

The Duke of Gloucester unveiled a plaque commemorating the first public airing of the 'Man on the Oss', as the sculpture is affectionately known.

Around 250 people turned out for the event, including councillors, dignitaries and members of the public.

The Duke is the great great grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

The statue, in Queen Square, was unveiled in 1866 by Victoria herself.

Her visit to Wolverhampton made headlines around the world as it was her first public appearance following years of private mourning after Albert's death.

She was reportedly so touched by the tribute to her beloved husband that she knighted the Mayor of Wolverhampton on the spot.

The Duke, who stepped onto the stage accompanied by music played by a brass band, joked at the unveiling: "It's reported that she was so impressed with the statue that she knighted the mayor of Wolverhampton on the spot.

"I'm sorry but I'm not in a position to repeat this."

He added: ""It is a great pleasure for me to come to Wolverhampton 150 years after my great great grandmother's visit here in which she unveiled this statue of her beloved husband, Prince Albert.

"Wolverhampton were very tactful in sending the letter and then commissioning the memorial.

"She was absolutely besotted with her husband and regarded herself tragically deprived of his company.

"However because of special events like the one in Wolverhampton she realised she was still quite popular.

"In his lifetime Prince Albert was somewhat mocked because he had a somewhat earnest manner. He was seen as a foreigner who took himself rather too seriously.

"But he made significant contributions to our country."

Mayor of Wolverhampton Barry Findlay said: "Prince Albert had been well loved. The Mayor of Wolverhampton George Underhill commissioned the statue, and Queen Victoria was so pleased with it she called for it to be unveiled nine days later.

"Before the statue, the widows of Wolverhampton wrote to the Queen to express their sympathies and share their pain having lost their husbands as well. This was said to have brought great comfort to the Queen in the hardest of times."

The Duke was also presented with a book of illustrations depicting the day of the unveiling of the Man on the Oss 150 years ago.

The Duke's visit marked the start of a programme of celebrations marking the milestone anniversary.

The main celebrations will take place next week, on Wednesday, November 30, which will be exactly 150 years to the day since Queen Victoria came to the city.

The event will start at 1pm with a re-enactment of the Queen's visit by Wolverhampton Central Youth Theatre, a military parade and a mass toast to the statue and the city at 1.50pm.

This will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at St Peter's Church at 5pm.

In the evening, the Mayor will honour unsung community heroes of Wolverhampton at an awards dinner for invited guests.