Victoria 's husband , Albert , Prince Consort , took an interest in the matter ; he wrote in his diary that he met on 16 January 1844 with Robert Peel to discuss the `` idea of institution of a civil Order of Merit '' and three days later he talked with the Queen on the subject . Victoria 's husband , Albert , Prince Consort , took an interest in the matter ; it was recorded in his diary that he met on 16 January 1844 with Robert Peel to discuss the `` idea of institution of a civil Order of Merit '' and three days later he conferred with the Queen on the subject .