Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, was an enthusiastic promoter of the self-financing exhibition; the government was persuaded to form the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to establish the viability of hosting such an exhibition.
Prins Albert, dronningens gemal, var en stor fortaler for en selvfinansieret udstilling, og regeringen blev overtalt til, at grundlægge Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, der skulle undersøge muligheden for at holde en sådan udstilling.