The society focuses on researching the eventful past and present of the relationship between the United Kingdom and Germany. Once a year, an international academic conference is held in Coburg, bringing together historians, political scientists, legal scholars, literary scholars, archivists and cultural workers. The results will be summarized in a conference volume. "I have been studying the history and constitution of the United Kingdom for thirty years. The Prince Albert Society offers me good conditions for my research, and I hope that in return I can further advance the society", says Professor Schieren.
However, the close connection to Great Britain does not only become evident content-wise. Speakers from Great Britain regularly take part in the conferences. In addition to the personal contacts, the encounters strengthen the connection between the two countries, which is a particular concern of the society after Brexit. The international focus of the society's activities is also reflected in the fact that speakers and guests from other European countries are increasingly visiting Coburg.
Against this background, Schieren emphasizes: "After Brexit, it is important to maintain and strengthen German-British relations at all levels. As an international network, the society brings together researchers from all over Europe. If the work of the Prince Albert Society, however minimal, were to contribute to the UK's re-entry into the EU, I would be delighted. I would like to build on the society's efforts to promote young scientists."
Stefan Schieren received his doctorate in 1994 in Bonn under supervision of Klaus Hildebrand with a historical thesis on the British diplomat Lord Lothian. In 2000, he habilitated in Magdeburg supervised by Wolfgang Renzsch with a political science thesis on the transformation of British democracy through accession to the EEC. He has been a professor at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt since 2003. His research focuses on the history and present of the British constitution.