The premise of this timeline, is that with a different government to the Disraeli ministry of 1874-1880 of OTL, Britain pursues a different foreign policy, particularly in regards to South Africa, and spends the resources and troops used during the Afghan War of 1878-1880 on the First Boer War resulting in a different outcome, particularly for the development of South Africa. While the actual timeline begins in the 1870s, the POD is in 1861 and the successful recovery from typhoid fever of a certain German consort...
POD
Many theories have surrounded the rather miraculous recovery of Prince Albert, from the depths of typhoid which had seemed to consume him. While some of these have bordered on the ludicrous (if anyone has read the Prince's diaries they'll realise the long held view of some sort of spiritual awakening is ridiculous), the real reason is that the Prince possessed a remarkably strong immune system and had been in strong health prior to his illness. His survival was a boon to both the Queen and the Royal Family, while also providing good news to the British Liberals who saw Albert as a moderate holder of their views. Albert's recovery allowed him to take the Prince of Wales, on a tour of Germany that would also impact upon the childhood development of a future monarch...