Alfred Charles Freiherr de Rothschild, CVO (20 July 1842 – 31 January 1918), was an English banker and art collector who was director of the Bank of England from 1868–89.

Alfred had paid a very high price for a French eighteenth-century painting after being assured by the dealer that he, too, had been forced to pay an excessive sum for it and was making only a marginal profit.

[5] Freiherr de Rothschild was invested as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace in 1902.

[5] Alfred de Rothschild probably had an illegitimate child from a long-term relationship with a Mrs. Maria ("Mina") Boyer Wombwell.

The birth certificate states her father as "Frederick C. Wombwell", but Alfred always acted as her guardian, and the girl's name, Almina, suggests the combination of "Al" and "Mina".

Alfred enabled the union by providing a £500,000 dowry (equivalent to £73 million in 2023 pounds)[9] that allowed her financially hard-pressed husband to maintain the family estate, Highclere Castle,[10] and pay off his debts.

[12] In later life, Alfred did not enjoy good health and he died at 1 Seamore Place, Mayfair,[13] after a short illness on 31 January 1918, aged 75.