King Edward VII of Great Britain

[Princess Cassandra]

Albert Edward, Prince of Wales was over fifty years old before Queen Victoria told him anything of cabinet proceedings.

I often wonder what his behavior and accomplishments would have been had his parents been more in-tuned to his strengths and learning style. They were so insensitive, and he was a very different child than his sister. It was agony for him to sit still in the schoolroom.  From what I have read he faced constant criticism. 

[LouisFerdinand]

On March 10, 1863, at Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra's wedding, the choir sang a chorale of Prince Consort Albert's composition. It was nice that through music Prince Consort Albert's influence was at his son's wedding.

[LouisFerdinand]

The original coronation had been planned for June 26, 1902. Edward VII's coronation had to be postponed when he needed emergency surgery for acute appendicitis. Edward had the operation.

[LouisFerdinand]

King Edward VII supported reform of the army following the Boer War. He supported Admiral Fischer's expansion of the Royal Navy including the new Dreadnaught battleships.

[LouisFerdinand]

Sir Ernest Cassel's handling of King Edward VII's finances from 1890 made Edward more richer than Queen Victoria.

[Curryong]

Sir Ernest was a great friend of Bertie?s as well as his financial advisor. Bertie had been in considerable debt at certain periods of his time as POW, due to trying to keep up with extremely wealthy friends in his circle. Indeed PM Gladstone?s Private Sec recorded the old man expressing anxieties about some possibly corrupt activity to do with Bertie incessantly pressing on him the name of a prominent building developer in the 1880s to be awarded a peerage. So perhaps it was just as well that Cassel got his finances in order.

It could be said also that Bertie had a great many more expenses than the Queen. Victoria scarcely entertained anyone in her Palaces in the last thirty odd years of her reign except during the Golden and Diamond Jubilees.

It?s true that her son was entertained lavishly by the British aristocracy. However he had to return the favour at least sometimes, and large house parties at Sandringham and balls and dinners at Marlborough House resulted. He also went abroad quite frequently, and had more fun while there than Victoria did. He gambled at casinos abroad, and in private homes in Britain, resulting in The Great Baccarat Scandal of 1892. He had mistresses, also had a stable of race horses and sailed in his own yacht, not inexpensive hobbies. Add to that his wife and children?s expenses and it adds up to quite a sum. 

[LouisFerdinand]

King Edward VII on board the Victoria and Albert at Portsmouth on the return of the S.S. Ophir 
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