Edward 7th King of England. Edward VII, Biography, life history, creativity, writers, ZhZL. Accession to the throne

The future King Edward VII was born on November 9, 1841. He was the son of the British ruler Victoria and her husband Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Before the coronation, the heir bore the double name Albert Edward (the first was given to him at baptism). This monarch became the first in the Windsor dynasty. He spent more time as heir to the throne than any of his predecessors (59 years). Edward's record was broken in 2011 by today's Prince of Wales, Charles.

Disobedient child

Edward VII, whose reign spanned 1901 - 1910, remained heir to the throne for a record long time (his mother Victoria died in old age). Because of this, Windsor spent his entire youth as Prince of Wales. Since childhood, he has retained an uncontrollable character. The teachers could hardly get along with Bertie (that’s what his relatives called him).

At the age of 17, the heir began studying at Oxford. At the university, a previously unfamiliar world of horse racing, gambling, alcohol and cigars opened up to the young man. The temptations of youth were not conducive to discipline. To accustom his son to order, his father sent him to serve in the army in Ireland. However, this did not change the future of Edward VII.

Conflict with mother

Personal life

Although Edward's marriage to Alexandra was actually forced on the heir by Victoria, the family life of the young couple, who got married in 1863, was at first simply wonderful. Their relationship cooled a few years after the birth of their third child.

Edward began to spend more and more time away from home. Brothels became his favorite places of leisure. The Prince of Wales especially appreciated the brothels of Paris, where he left his homeland at the first opportunity. The heir to the British throne made many dubious friends and women of easy virtue.

One day, Edward got into a disgusting scandal because he entered into a relationship with a married woman, which her husband, an influential baron, found out about. The trial took place. The girl was sent for compulsory treatment to a psychiatric hospital. The prince was present at the trial as a witness, but all the English newspapers were happy to chew on this unpleasant story for the royal court. Edward, however, continued to lead a frivolous lifestyle in subsequent years. He had affairs with several actresses.

Edwardian era

The period when Edward VII was in power (1901 - 1910) is remembered in British history as the Edwardian era. The monarch ascended the throne at the age of 59. For subsequent generations of British people, that time began to evoke good-natured nostalgic emotions. The Edwardian era was and is considered carefree, peaceful and calm. Against the backdrop of the Great War (as the British call the First World War), it truly looked like an idyllic time.

Edward VII himself was the best personification of his time. Life-loving and a good judge of entertainment, he was the complete opposite of his strict mother Victoria. In his youth, having shocked the public more than once with his antics, the king has now brought back to life the brilliant ceremony of power (for example, the annual magnificent opening ceremony of the British Parliament was revived).

Progress period

For people who belonged to high society or had significant means, Edward II was the living embodiment of a comfortable life. At the beginning of the 20th century, wealthy Englishmen became familiar with new technical and scientific achievements. Under Edward, cars became widespread, and long-distance travel by train and ferry became popular. Talented artists and writers created. Art Nouveau, that is, modernism, arose in art.

But despite the external splendor, the British King Edward VII also had numerous worries. A large-scale struggle between various social groups and classes unfolded in the country. Opposing political factions tried to lead the monarchy in the right direction, in their opinion. Socialism was gaining popularity among working-class Britons.

Rapprochement with France

In foreign policy, Edward VII, whose reign occurred on the eve of the First World War, followed a course of rapprochement with Russia and France. It was he who stood at the origins of the Entente. During the First World War, this alliance would oppose Germany, Austria and Turkey. In fact, the creation of blocs by the great powers became one of the most important prerequisites for the start of bloodshed. Nevertheless, Edward remained in the memory of his compatriots as a peacemaker monarch.

The British monarch signed an alliance agreement with France in 1904 (it also went down in history under the name “Agreement of the Heart”). Thanks to this agreement, Edward stopped the long-term colonial conflict between the two countries in Africa. The boundaries of the powers on this continent were agreed upon and were no longer subject to dispute. England and France also issued a joint declaration on the disputed Morocco and Egypt. In Paris, they abandoned Newfoundland, for which they received part of the border lands in Africa. By signing the Treaty of the Heart, King Edward VII scored a major diplomatic victory.

Relations with Russia

In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, after which Russia sent a squadron to the Far East, which was supposed to sail across the Atlantic and around Africa. While in the North Sea, the ships mistakenly shot at several civilian ships carrying British fishermen. Two people died. Soon Edward VII learned about what had happened.

The King of England did everything to smooth out the conflict. An arbitration court was created to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy. Russia paid compensation to the injured fishermen and their families. However, relations between the two powers were for some time in their worst state since the Crimean War.

The emergence of the Entente

Due to the incident with the squadron, Edward had to cancel his planned visit to Russia. When the conflict was smoothed over, the organization of the trip resumed. Finally, in 1908, Edward VII, whose biography was directly related to Nicholas II, visited Russia. The visit of the British monarch was the first such visit in the history of relations between the two countries.

Edward was the uncle of Nicholas II, as well as the uncle of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, which is why he was nicknamed "Uncle of Europe". The family ties that bound the monarchs of the Old World left an additional imprint on their connections. Edward, despite personal relationships, had to choose for the sake of state interests which of his nephews to enter into an alliance with.

In 1907 (even before the monarch’s visit) an Anglo-Russian agreement was signed, which in its meaning was similar to the previous agreement with France. The treaty ended the “Great Game” in Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Great Britain and Russia have finally delimited their spheres of influence in Central Asia. Edward and Nicholas recognized Chinese rule over Tibet and renounced their own interests in the region.

After the signing of the Anglo-Russian agreement, the Triple Entente was finally formed. Edward abandoned the policy of “brilliant isolation” that characterized his mother’s era. The king took this step because of the threat to German hegemony and Germany's growing colonial ambitions.

Financial difficulties

Four years after Edward VII became king, the Unionists and Conservatives, which had been in power for almost twenty years, lost the election to the Liberal-Labour alliance. The new Parliament and monarch needed to resolve several complex internal problems that had simmered during the Victorian era. The greatest concern of society was the financial burden that fell on the shoulders of taxpayers due to huge expenditures on the army, police, officials and courts.

The Anglo-Boer War, which the king inherited from his mother, ended in 1902, but it managed to generate a significant public debt. Although the scepter of Edward VII was a symbol of power for the largest empire of its time, the monarch could not immediately solve the fiscal problems of the state. It was under Victoria's successor that a faction appeared in parliament demanding a strict policy of protectionism.

Constitutional crisis

Under Edward VII, Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George became popular politicians. They advocated increasing wages for workers in areas where wages had previously been lowest. Their measures supported the actions of municipal authorities and charities. As a result of this policy, mortality decreased and the standard of living of ordinary UK residents began to increase.

However, the innovations that Edward also supported were extremely expensive for the treasury, which aggravated pre-existing financial problems. The military also demanded money, frightening society and politicians with the growing German threat. As a result, the 1909 budget proposed by Lloyd George was based on the idea of ​​​​shifting the tax burden onto the wealthy part of the country's inhabitants - it was planned to introduce new taxes on land, excess profits and inheritance.

The ideas of the liberals were opposed by the leader of the opposition, Arthur Balfour. He rejected the budget through the House of Lords. As a result of the conflict between politicians, the end of Edward's reign was marked by a constitutional crisis. By tradition, the House of Lords has never interfered in the financial decisions of the state. The split in parliament was smoothed out after the death of the king. In 1911, an act was passed that limited the power of the unelected House of Lords.

Death and legacy

Since his youth, Edward had the habit of smoking more than ten cigarettes and cigars a day. Towards the end of his life, the king suffered from bronchitis. In 1909, during an official visit to Berlin, he suffered a brief loss of consciousness. In the last days of his life, the king’s illnesses intensified. The monarch died on May 6, 1910 at Buckingham Palace. He was 68 years old.

When the throne of Edward VII was empty, royal powers passed to his son George V. A few days later the funeral took place. The burial of the deceased took place in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Almond-shaped Edward VII tokens and coins were issued in memory of the king.

George was the second son of the British king. The eldest of Edward's six children, Albert Victor, died in 1892 without waiting for his turn to take the throne. Nevertheless, George became a worthy heir to his father. Contemporaries noted that their relationship was more like a brotherly one. Today, historians consider Edward VII to be Britain's first truly constitutional monarch and its last king to wield real political power.

Biography
Full name: Albert Edward of Saxe-Coburg
Father: Albert of Saxe-Coburg
Mother: Victoria, Queen of England
Marriage: Married Alexandra Oldenburg on March 19, 1863 at the age of 21
Coronation: 9 August 1902, Westminster Abbey, London
Children (with Alexandra Oldenburg): Albert, Duke of Avondale John of Saxe-Coburg George V, King of England
Louise of Saxe-Coburg, Princess Maude of Saxe-Coburg
Victoria of Saxe-Coburg Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was raised by his parents under a very strict regime, as they had high hopes for his abilities. The task of forming a strong personality was set before the boy’s trustees. The principles of education were tireless study, strict discipline and complete isolation of the child from his peers. At the age of 11, with a lively and indomitable nature, the boy often sat in classes from 8 am to 7 pm. He was taught ancient and European languages, literature, geography, exact sciences and arts. In the summer there was detente. In the palace parks of England and Scotland, Albert Edward's father introduced him to horse riding and hunting foxes and deer.
The real difficulties in the relationship between the royal couple and the crown prince began in the years of his youth and youth. The attractive appearance of the future king and especially his wavy hair, expressive eyes and charming manners made an indelible impression on the female part of society.
In her diary and letters to her eldest daughter Victoria, who was the wife of the heir to the Prussian throne and future Emperor Frederick III, the queen complained that her son was prone to a frivolous lifestyle and his accession to the throne would bring adversity to the dynasty and the country as a whole.
During his mother's reign he was initially involved in general matters, including serving on Royal Commissions on Social Problems, but was then suspended by Victoria from acting as her representative until 1898.
Taking a number of university courses broadened the prince's horizons and revealed his aptitude for science, but could not prevent the inevitable. During his three-week military service in the summer of 1861 in Ireland, the prince managed to fly out of his golden cage. By this time he already had the rank of lieutenant colonel, assigned to him in advance.
Three possibilities immediately opened up for the young officer. Firstly, he had long dreamed of an army career, which was unusual for members of the royal family, who preferred service in the navy. Secondly, he could communicate with guards officers, his peers. Thirdly, with the assistance of new friends, the prince had his first lover, the young actress Nellie Clifden.
The royal family did not know about the mischief of the Prince of Wales. But back in the spring of 1861, the parents’ intuition told them that their son’s obvious penchant for social entertainment could undermine the throne. The solution was seen in the need for an early marriage of the heir to one of the European princesses.
Albert Edward was in love with Alexandra. “I didn’t think it was possible to love as much as I love her,” he wrote to his mother. The girl reciprocated his feelings and, with her characteristic sincerity, admitted that if her lover were not a prince, but a shepherd, she would still have tender feelings for him and would marry him.
Preparations began for the wedding, which took place in March 1863 at St. George's Church, Windsor. But the Prince Consort was not destined to see her. Depression, as a consequence of the experience, and typhus caused his death on December 14, 1861. Until the end of her days, the grief-stricken widow considered the heir to be the culprit in Albert’s death. Alexandra remained her favorite.
Albert Edward's adultery soon became apparent. During a visit to St. Petersburg, the prince could not resist the charms of Russian beauties. The following year he conquered Parisian women, and in the summer of 1868 he had already found numerous mistresses in his native England. Among them were aristocrats and representatives of lower social classes.
Alexandra was acutely worried about the prince’s cooling towards her. Over time, Albert Edward's stormy temperament became a burden to her, and marital relations were gradually limited to family concerns and ceremonial duties. Being a proud and wise person, put in a difficult position, Alexandra accustomed herself to perceive her husband’s amorous adventures as the tricks of a spoiled young man. She found her solace in religion and caring for children. Their two sons Albert-Victor and Georg and three daughters Louise, Victoria and Magdalene felt sincere affection for her.
Turning to the analysis of the reign of Edward VII, it is necessary to admit that Victoria’s worst assumptions did not come true. The educational experiment carried out on Albert Edward by the royal couple, his natural inclinations and forced idleness turned the prince’s ebullient energy not into the public sphere. But, having become king in old age, having no experience in handling state affairs and no experience communicating with ministers, Edward VII managed to positively prove himself in a number of areas of domestic and foreign policy and benefit his country.
Edward was 59 years old when he became king.
The circle of brilliant personalities gathered around a seemingly frivolous monarch was not an accident. For all his shortcomings, Edward possessed such qualities as generosity, loyalty in friendship, gambling and love of life, which, in addition to his royal rank, ensured him the sincere affection of his friends. Intuition, manifested in personal and state affairs, more than once suggested to Edward the correct style of behavior. A leader lived latently in his personality, perhaps through no fault of his own, realizing himself mainly in the circle of friends.
Edward's main interests were foreign affairs and military and naval matters. Knowing French and German well, Edward made a number of visits abroad. In 1904 he visited France. This visit helped create the atmosphere in which the subsequent Anglo-French friendly agreement between the states became possible. He was associated with almost every sovereign on the continent and therefore became known as the Uncle of Europe.
King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions and Emperor of India Edward VII was the first British monarch to visit Russia. In June 1908, he first set foot on Russian soil, however conditionally, since the meeting took place in the harbor of Revel. This visit became possible as a result of the agreement on Afghanistan, Iran and Tibet signed on August 31, 1907 between Russia and England. During the visit, Edward VII fulfilled the request of the banker Ernst Cassel and facilitated the placement of his loan in Russia, and also fulfilled his promise to Rothschild - to intercede for the Jews who were subjected to pogroms in Russia.
Berlin watched with concern the rapprochement of the two countries. Early in 1909, Edward VII finally agreed to accept William II's invitation to visit Berlin. The visit took place in an atmosphere of restraint. Only when bidding farewell to the Kaiser did the king raise the painful issue of reducing the German naval program and, having not received a positive response, expressed hope for the triumph of reason.
In general, having shown initiative and independence in some areas of policy, Edward VII remained in the constitutional field assigned to him. The representative monarchy was completed during his reign. Ceremonial functions, somewhat lost under Queen Victoria after the death of her husband Prince Consort Albert, regained their splendor and pomp. The palaces were restored to a new technical level, taking into account the installation of telephones and bathrooms. At the same time, all the statues and busts of Queen Victoria’s favorite servant, Scotsman J. Brown, were destroyed. Edward did not want to come to terms with the rumors that the Scot was supposedly a powerful medium through which Victoria communicated with the spirit of her deceased husband Prince Albert, as well as with the information that was spreading at court about the intimate relationship between the queen and J. Brown.
Edward suffered from bronchitis, and this illness did not let him go. The crisis came in early May 1910. When Edward VII's health began to deteriorate, he strengthened himself by working in the garden of the estate at Sandringham. What's the point of living if you can't work! - he remarked to his doctor. Nevertheless, his illnesses forced him to retire to Buckingham Palace. Until the last minute he was animated, smoking a cigar, and when he learned that his horse had come first in the race, he said: “I’m very glad.” With these words the king died.

(Edward VII) (1841–1910), King of Great Britain and Ireland. Albert Edward was born on November 9, 1841 in London, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After becoming Prince of Wales, he was educated at home; Studied briefly in Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge. In 1855 he made the first of his many visits to Paris, in 1860 he visited Canada and the USA, and in 1862 he traveled to the Holy Land and the Mediterranean. In 1863 he married the Danish Princess Alexandra. His father died in 1861 and his mother was left a widow, so Prince Edward and his young wife were entrusted with the duties of performing the routine ceremonies of the royal house. Edward received great pleasure from traveling abroad; the most important of them are to Egypt in 1869 and to India in 1875; he also made numerous visits to various European countries, especially often to France. In England he showed an energetic interest in social work and charitable activities. Edward was interested in horse breeding and horse racing; his horses have won the Derby Cup three times.
Edward, one of the most famous and most popular English heirs to the throne, ascended the throne on January 22, 1901. Edward showed remarkable diplomatic talent, the ability to establish good personal relationships and gain authority. He directed all his efforts to create alliances in Europe with the participation of England and was the first British monarch to pay a state visit to Russia (1908). At the same time, personal enmity with the German Emperor Wilhelm had an impact on increasing international tension in the pre-war years. Edward VII died in London on May 6, 1910.

Edward VII - King of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India since January 22, 1901, Austrian field marshal (May 1, 1904), first of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (now Windsor) dynasty.

Before accession to the throne

In 1875–1876 he made a long journey to India, visiting Greece, Malta, Egypt, Aden, Gibraltar, Italy, Spain and Portugal along the way.

Samuel Bourne (1834–1912), Public Domain

Accession to the throne

Eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Consort Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Since his mother lived for a long time, he ascended the throne at the age of 59; until 2008 (Prince Charles's 60th birthday) he was the oldest Prince of Wales in British history.

Luke Fildes (1843–1927), Public Domain

Edward's reign began in January 1901 after the death of his mother. Before his accession to the throne, the Prince of Wales was better known by his first baptismal name. Albert(diminutive Bertie), and the mother (in memory of her late husband) wanted her son to reign under the name Albert Edward I. However, since there were no kings of Britain with the name Albert (and, more importantly, this name was considered German by many Englishmen), there were no precedents for the use of double names, the throne name of Victoria's successor became the middle name - Edward.

The coronation of the new monarch was scheduled for June 26, 1902, but a few days before this date the king suffered from appendicitis, which required immediate surgery, so the coronation was postponed for the only time in the history of Great Britain, and it took place on August 9 of the same year.

Policy

Had a nickname Europe's uncle(English) the Uncle of Europe), as he was the uncle of several European monarchs who reigned at the same time as him, including Nicholas II and William II.

The king made a great personal contribution to the creation of the Entente, visiting France (1903) and Russia (1908) on official visits. The Anglo-French agreement of 1904 and the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907 were concluded.

He was the first British monarch to visit Russia (he had previously postponed the visit in 1906 due to strained Anglo-Russian relations following the Dogger Bank incident). Although these steps in historical perspective turned out to be a consolidation of forces before the First World War, in the eyes of his contemporaries Edward VII was the “Peacemaker” ( the Peacemaker), as did the initiator of the Franco-Russian alliance, Alexander III. It was under him that relations with the German Empire began to rapidly deteriorate; Edward did not like Kaiser Wilhelm II.

During the Edwardian era, the country experienced an outbreak of spy mania, alarmism and Germanophobia. The King played a significant role in the reform of the British navy and medical service after the Boer War.

The “Edwardian era” (in nostalgic connotations roughly corresponding to the “Silver Age”, “peacetime”, “time before 1913” in Russia) was marked by increased political activity of the population, the growth of socialism and feminism in Britain, and industrial and technological development.

Personal life

The Prince of Wales married on 10 March 1863 Alexandra, Princess of Denmark (1 December 1844 - 20 November 1925), sister of the Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar).

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813–1901) , Public Domain

There were six children from this marriage:

• Albert Victor (8 January 1864 – 14 January 1892), Duke of Clarence;
• George (3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936), King George V of Great Britain;
• Louisa (20 February 1867 – 4 January 1931), married Alexander, Duke of Fife;
• Victoria (July 6, 1868 – December 3, 1935), never married;
• Maud (26 November 1869 – 20 November 1938), married to King Haakon VII of Norway.
• Alexander John (6 April 1871 – 7 April 1871).

Being the Prince of Wales, he was known for his cheerful disposition, passion for running and hunting; a big fan of the fair sex (among his favorites were actresses Sarah Bernhardt and Lilly Langtry), which did not harm his reputation and was not hidden from Alexandra, who maintained an even relationship with these women.

Leslie Ward (1851–1922), CC BY-SA 3.0

The great-granddaughter of his last mistress, Alice Keppel, also became the mistress (and then wife) of the Prince of Wales - this is Camilla Parker Bowles, the current wife of Prince Charles. It is officially believed that her grandmother was born from Alice's husband; there is no evidence that Edward recognized any children as his own, except legitimate ones.

At the same time, Edward was practically not allowed by his mother to participate in government affairs; Moreover, it is believed that Victoria hated her eldest son, unreasonably considering him guilty of the death of his father, Prince Albert.

Edward was an active figure in Freemasonry and participated in the meetings of many lodges in Britain and on the Continent; Like other British Freemasons of the time, he made no secret of his membership in lodges, and some of his speeches on Masonic topics were public.

In 1908, Edward VII opened the Summer Olympic Games in London.

He enjoyed great popularity as a prince and as a king both in England and abroad.

Victoria and Albert despaired: the eldest son, heir and future king was completely uncontrollable. The teachers could not cope with him: the prince refused to teach anything that was not interesting to him, he could stand in the corner of the classroom, shout and stomp his feet, or even throw a stone at the professor. Bertie, as his family affectionately called him (he would change the name Albert, given to him at baptism, to Edward after the coronation), especially hated the exact sciences. But he wasn’t too friendly with the humanities either: the entire period of ancient history was for him one big blurry spot. But the 19th century, the war with Napoleon, relatively recent events, interested him much more. The prince was inferior in studies to his younger brother and even his older sister. His schedule was very busy: classes began early in the morning and lasted until 18-19 hours.

Young Prince Bertie. (pinterest.com)

Prince Albert prepared his son not only mentally, but also spiritually - the king of Great Britain simply had to be a moral example for his subjects. However, little Bertie, as if out of spite, did the opposite. Albert noted with bitterness that he had never met such lazy boys, and the most unfortunate thing for him was the fact that this was his own son.

Having reached the age of 17, Bertie went to continue his studies at Oxford. He passionately wanted to make real friends among his peers, which his parents had not previously allowed. The prince finally received a small breath of freedom and happily discovered a brave new world: gambling, horse racing and strong cigars.

Albert decided to send Bertie to Ireland for military training. However, this did not help to discipline the prince: soon after his arrival, a young pretty actress was discovered in his personal chambers. Behavior that was completely unacceptable, by the standards of the puritanical Victorian era, for a future king. Albert sent his son a letter in which he called him weak and depraved.

Soon a misfortune happened: Prince Albert died suddenly. The Queen was crushed and blamed Bertie for the death of her husband. She sincerely believed that her son’s misbehavior literally broke the heart of her dear “Angel.” This was a turning point in their relationship: from now on until Victoria’s death, she and Bertie would keep their distance. The Queen noted that she could not stand the presence of her son and be in the same room with him.

Queen Victoria mourned her husband until her death. (pinterest.com)

She also had no intention of leaving her royal duties and handing over the throne to Bertie. Victoria was sure that he was completely unprepared for the role of king. Wanting to somehow rein in the prodigal son, she decided to quickly organize his marriage. Choosing a bride was not an easy task: she had to first of all meet the high moral requirements of the queen herself. It was soon decided that the hairy-eyed Danish princess Alexandra was ideal for this role. Her younger sister Dagmar would later become the wife of Russian Emperor Alexander III.

And although Edward was actually forced into marriage, we can say that he was extremely lucky. The young wife was not only in love with Bertie, but also had a light, cheerful disposition. The prince enjoyed discovering the social life of London: the couple organized receptions, often appeared in public, and made pleasant acquaintances. Society found Edward charming. He finally felt in his element: by nature, Bertie was an absolute extrovert.

Princess Alexandra. (pinterest.com)

In addition to social life, he also sought to take part in government affairs: he was especially interested in diplomacy and foreign politics. However, Victoria did her best to extinguish her son’s enthusiasm and did not allow him to resolve important issues. Subsequently, after the death of his mother, Edward would prove himself to be an incredibly successful and talented diplomat. But during the reign of the queen, no one suspected his talent.

At the same time, the situation in the family was heating up: Alexandra gave birth to a third child, and their relationship with Bertie was already far from passionate and romantic. Being 8 months pregnant, Alix became seriously ill: Bertie was sent for. He reluctantly returned from the races to spend some time at her bedside, but did not stay long.

The prince grew tired of family life. He spent more and more time in the company of dubious friends and women of easy virtue. Bertie was a regular at the most famous Parisian brothels. In one of them, Le Chabanais, he had his own bedroom and bathroom. A fancy chair was made especially for the heir to the throne, which allowed him to have sex with two women at once.

The same chair. (pinterest.com)

Edward also loved to take a bath in his apartment in the company of beautiful courtesans. Instead of water, the bathtub was filled with champagne.

Bertie ran away to Paris from his wife, mother, and also from British newspapermen. However, a scandal soon broke out, which hurt the reputation of the heir to the throne and the monarchy as a whole. Edward became interested in a married lady - young Harriet Mordo, wife of baronet Sir Charles. He visited her several times in the absence of her husband at their estate, but one day he was caught by the suddenly returning Charles “in the act.” The enraged husband demanded a divorce: a trial soon took place, where Prince Edward was summoned as a witness. He did not deny that he really saw Harriet, but in every possible way denied a physical connection between them. As a result of the trial, it was decided to send the girl for compulsory treatment for sleepwalking and personality disorder. Young Harriet was forced to remain in hospital for the rest of her days.

The story immediately hit the newspapers and a huge scandal broke out. And here the generous Alix and even, oddly enough, the queen, who was confident in her son’s innocence, took Bertie’s side.

This high-profile story, however, did not change Bertie’s habits: he still spent time in brothels, and also sought the company of beautiful, albeit married, women. Among his passions was the mother of the future British Prime Minister, the beautiful American Jenny Churchill. For about a year, Bertie was infatuated with actress and socialite Lilly Langtry, then followed by an affair with another actress, Sarah Bernhardt.

Jenny Churchill. (pinterest.com)

The public was well aware that Bertie could not be called an exemplary family man. His wife Alix also knew about this, and she bore these insults with incredible fortitude and dignity, rightly believing that these women were just a passing hobby for Bertie. She really felt a serious danger when the charming Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick, appeared in her husband’s life.

Daisy was a high-society lady who knew a lot about entertainment, and, moreover, was fabulously rich. She happily spent money on organizing balls and receptions, to which Bertie had entry. Daisy organized so-called “tea parties”, where married ladies and their admirers were invited. During dinner, the gentlemen quietly slipped notes to the ladies, asking them to visit them at such and such a time in such and such a room. In fact, Daisy organized a “visiting house” for the nobility on her estate.

Bertie fell seriously in love. In his diary, he made notes about when he met with D - sometimes several times a day. He called her "my dear wife Daisy." She was 20 years younger than Edward and was famous for her scandalous connections and extravagance.

Daisy. (pinterest.com)

Alix hated Daisy and was angry with her husband. She decided to humiliate him publicly by going on an indefinite trip to Denmark. There she spent time with her family and answered Edward’s questions about returning home very evasively. At the same time, Bertie himself was going through hard times: he began to have problems with potency, which he hoped to get rid of with the help of electric treatment. Daisy soon discovered that she was pregnant. But not from the prince. Their romance, which lasted 10 years, ended on her initiative. She wrote Bertie a farewell letter, which he showed to Alix. The message was so touching that the princess burst into tears and ordered Daisy to be sent a crucifix as a gift, to which she attached a note: “from someone who suffered a lot and forgave everything.”

Bertie was 59 years old when he finally ascended the throne. He devoted himself entirely to state affairs. Thanks to his charm and diplomatic talent, he managed to establish relations with England’s longtime enemy, France. Internal politics was also a priority. Bertie sincerely believed that the changes that were brewing in British society should not be ignored by the monarchy. He conducted a dialogue with all representatives of the political system of the state, including the opposition. Bertie the King's policy was strikingly different from that pursued by his mother. Edward really managed to win people's love. And not only folk ones.

The last source of joy for the now middle-aged king was 29-year-old Alice Keppel, the great-grandmother of Prince Charles’s current wife, Camilla. A beauty, socialite and aristocrat, she had a great influence on Edward and even allowed herself to interfere in state affairs.

Alice Keppel. (pinterest.com)

Alice received a generous provision, and her husband received a promotion. Keppel was in fact Edward's second wife, and this triple alliance lasted until the king's death. The dying Bertie begged Alix to send for his mistress, and she generously fulfilled his request. When Keppel arrived at the palace, Edward hardly recognized anyone. According to Alice’s recollections, he asked his wife to reconcile with her mistress and take care of her after his death.

The principles of education were tireless study, strict discipline and complete isolation of the child from his peers. At the age of 11, with a lively and indomitable nature, the boy often sat in classes from 8 am to 7 pm. He was taught ancient and European languages, literature, geography, exact sciences and arts. In the summer there was detente. In the palace parks of England and Scotland, Albert Edward's father introduced him to horse riding and hunting foxes and deer.

The real difficulties in the relationship between the royal couple and the crown prince began in the years of his youth and youth. The attractive appearance of the future king and especially his wavy hair, expressive eyes and charming manners made an indelible impression on the female part of society.

In her diary and letters to her eldest daughter Victoria, who was the wife of the heir to the Prussian throne and future Emperor Frederick III, the queen complained that her son was prone to a frivolous lifestyle and his accession to the throne would bring adversity to the dynasty and the country as a whole.

During his mother's reign he was initially involved in general matters, including serving on Royal Commissions on Social Problems, but was then suspended by Victoria from acting as her representative until 1898.

Taking a number of university courses broadened the prince's horizons and revealed his aptitude for science, but could not prevent the inevitable. During his three-week military service in the summer of 1861 in Ireland, the prince managed to fly out of his golden cage. By this time he already had the rank of lieutenant colonel, assigned to him in advance.

Three possibilities immediately opened up for the young officer. Firstly, he had long dreamed of an army career, which was unusual for members of the royal family, who preferred service in the navy. Secondly, he could communicate with guards officers, his peers. Thirdly, with the assistance of new friends, the prince had his first lover, the young actress Nellie Clifden.

The royal family did not know about the mischief of the Prince of Wales. But back in the spring of 1861, the parents’ intuition told them that their son’s obvious penchant for social entertainment could undermine the throne. The solution was seen in the need for an early marriage of the heir to one of the European princesses.

Albert Edward was in love with Alexandra. “I didn’t think it was possible to love as much as I love her,” he wrote to his mother. The girl reciprocated his feelings and, with her characteristic sincerity, admitted that if her lover were not a prince, but a shepherd, she would still have tender feelings for him and would marry him.

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Preparations began for the wedding, which took place in March 1863 at St. George's Church, Windsor. But the Prince Consort was not destined to see her. Depression, as a consequence of the experience, and typhus caused his death on December 14, 1861. Until the end of her days, the grief-stricken widow considered the heir to be the culprit in Albert’s death. Alexandra remained her favorite.

Albert Edward's adultery soon became apparent. During a visit to St. Petersburg, the prince could not resist the charms of Russian beauties. The following year he conquered Parisian women, and in the summer of 1868 he had already found numerous mistresses in his native England. Among them were aristocrats and representatives of lower social classes.

Alexandra was acutely worried about the prince’s cooling towards her. Over time, Albert Edward's stormy temperament became a burden to her, and marital relations were gradually limited to family concerns and ceremonial duties. Being a proud and wise person, put in a difficult position, Alexandra accustomed herself to perceive her husband’s amorous adventures as the tricks of a spoiled young man. She found her solace in religion and caring for children. Their two sons Albert-Victor and Georg and three daughters Louise, Victoria and Magdalene felt sincere affection for her.

Turning to the analysis of the reign of Edward VII, it is necessary to admit that Victoria’s worst assumptions did not come true. The educational experiment carried out on Albert Edward by the royal couple, his natural inclinations and forced idleness turned the prince’s ebullient energy not into the public sphere. But, having become king in old age, having no experience in handling state affairs and no experience communicating with ministers, Edward VII managed to positively prove himself in a number of areas of domestic and foreign policy and benefit his country.

Edward was 59 years old when he became king.

The circle of brilliant personalities gathered around a seemingly frivolous monarch was not an accident. For all his shortcomings, Edward possessed such qualities as generosity, loyalty in friendship, gambling and love of life, which, in addition to his royal rank, ensured him the sincere affection of his friends. Intuition, manifested in personal and state affairs, more than once suggested to Edward the correct style of behavior. A leader lived latently in his personality, perhaps through no fault of his own, realizing himself mainly in the circle of friends.

Edward's main interests were foreign affairs and military and naval matters. Knowing French and German well, Edward made a number of visits abroad. In 1904 he visited France. This visit helped create the atmosphere in which the subsequent Anglo-French friendly agreement between the states became possible. He was associated with almost every sovereign on the continent and therefore became known as the Uncle of Europe.

King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions and Emperor of India Edward VII was the first British monarch to visit Russia. In June 1908, he first set foot on Russian soil, however conditionally, since the meeting took place in the harbor of Revel. This visit became possible as a result of the agreement on Afghanistan, Iran and Tibet signed on August 31, 1907 between Russia and England. During the visit, Edward VII fulfilled the request of the banker Ernst Cassel and facilitated the placement of his loan in Russia, and also fulfilled his promise to Rothschild - to intercede for the Jews who were subjected to pogroms in Russia.

Berlin watched with concern the rapprochement of the two countries. Early in 1909, Edward VII finally agreed to accept William II's invitation to visit Berlin. The visit took place in an atmosphere of restraint. Only when bidding farewell to the Kaiser did the king raise the painful issue of reducing the German naval program and, having not received a positive response, expressed hope for the triumph of reason.

In general, having shown initiative and independence in some areas of policy, Edward VII remained in the constitutional field assigned to him. The representative monarchy was completed during his reign. Ceremonial functions, somewhat lost under Queen Victoria after the death of her husband Prince Consort Albert, regained their splendor and pomp. The palaces were restored to a new technical level, taking into account the installation of telephones and bathrooms. At the same time, all the statues and busts of Queen Victoria’s favorite servant, Scotsman J. Brown, were destroyed. Edward did not want to come to terms with the rumors that the Scot was supposedly a powerful medium through which Victoria communicated with the spirit of her deceased husband Prince Albert, as well as with the information that was spreading at court about the intimate relationship between the queen and J. Brown.

Edward suffered from bronchitis, and this illness did not let him go. The crisis came in early May 1910. When Edward VII's health began to deteriorate, he strengthened himself by working in the garden of the estate at Sandringham. What's the point of living if you can't work! - he remarked to his doctor. Nevertheless, his illnesses forced him to retire to Buckingham Palace. Until the last minute he was animated, smoking a cigar, and when he learned that his horse had come first in the race, he said: “I’m very glad.” With these words the king died.

(Edward VII) (1841–1910), King of Great Britain and Ireland. Albert Edward was born on November 9, 1841 in London, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After becoming Prince of Wales, he was educated at home; Studied briefly in Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge. In 1855 he made the first of his many visits to Paris, in 1860 he visited Canada and the USA, and in 1862 he traveled to the Holy Land and the Mediterranean. In 1863 he married the Danish Princess Alexandra. His father died in 1861 and his mother was left a widow, so Prince Edward and his young wife were entrusted with the duties of performing the routine ceremonies of the royal house. Edward received great pleasure from traveling abroad; the most important of them are to Egypt in 1869 and to India in 1875; he also made numerous visits to various European countries, especially often to France. In England he showed an energetic interest in social work and charitable activities. Edward was interested in horse breeding and horse racing; his horses have won the Derby Cup three times.

Edward, one of the most famous and most popular English heirs to the throne, ascended the throne on January 22, 1901. Edward showed remarkable diplomatic talent, the ability to establish good personal relationships and gain authority. He directed all his efforts to create alliances in Europe with the participation of England and was the first British monarch to pay a state visit to Russia (1908). At the same time, personal enmity with the German Emperor Wilhelm had an impact on increasing international tension in the pre-war years. Edward VII died in London on May 6, 1910.