42 Facts About King Edward VII

1. King Edward VII insisted on his right to marry the woman of his choice, even though her marital background made her unacceptable to the public and the government.

2. King Edward VII had a series of long-term mistresses, including the actress Lily Langtry.

3. King Edward VII had a series of heart attacks in April 1910, and expired on 6 May As Edward lay dying, news arrived that one of his horses had galloped home to win a race at Kempton Park.

4. King Edward VII lacked the interest or ability to do the same.

5. King Edward VII seemed to stand for everything that Queen Victoria was not.

6. King Edward VII was not a particularly attentive husband, preferring instead the company of his friends and of a succession of mistresses.

7. King Edward VII lived for decades as the heir to the throne, and this shaped what he would become and defined his behavior, position, and rectitude in relation to his mother.

8. King Edward VII attended maneuvers in Ireland in order to gain military experiences, but he spent three nights with an actress who was hidden in his camps by fellow officers.

9. King Edward VII had gained the reputation of a playboy in his early adulthood.

10. King Edward VII used his fluency in French and German to shuttle across Europe and meet with major heads of state.

11. The King Edward VII's continued ill health was unreported and he attracted criticism for staying in France while political tensions were so high.

12. King Edward VII was displeased at Liberal attacks on the peers, which included a polemical speech by David Lloyd George at Limehouse.

13. King Edward VII was rarely interested in politics, although his views on some issues were notably liberal for the time.

14. The King Edward VII was intimately involved in the appointment of Fisher's successor as the Fisher-Beresford feud had split the service, and the only truly qualified figure known to be outside of both camps was Sir Arthur Wilson, who had retired in 1907.

15. King Edward VII supported the redesign of army command, the creation of the Territorial Force, and the decision to provide an Expeditionary Force supporting France in the event of war with Germany.

16. King Edward VII involved himself heavily in discussions over army reform, the need for which had become apparent with the failings of the Boer War.

17. King Edward VII was opposed to Irish Home Rule, instead preferring a form of dual monarchy.

18. King Edward VII doted on his grandchildren, and indulged them, to the consternation of their governesses.

19. King Edward VII was related to nearly every other European monarch, and came to be known as the "uncle of Europe".

20. King Edward VII refused to bestow the honour on the Shah because the order was meant to be in his personal gift and the Foreign Secretary, Lord Lansdowne, had promised it without his consent.

21. The next day, King Edward VII was sitting up in bed, smoking a cigar.

22. At a time of widespread anti-Semitism, King Edward VII attracted criticism for openly socialising with Jews.

23. King Edward VII chose to reign under the name Edward VII, instead of Albert Edward—the name his mother had intended for him to use—declaring that he did not wish to "undervalue the name of Albert" and diminish the status of his father with whom the "name should stand alone".

24. King Edward VII told Queen Victoria, "[I would] have given my life for him, as I put no value on mine".

25. King Edward VII ordered all the clocks at Sandringham to run half an hour ahead to provide more daylight time for shooting.

26. King Edward VII was not a heavy drinker, though he did drink champagne and, occasionally, port.

27. King Edward VII introduced the practice of eating roast beef and potatoes with horseradish sauce and yorkshire pudding on Sundays, a meal that remains a staple British favourite for Sunday lunch.

28. King Edward VII made wearing tweed, Homburg hats and Norfolk jackets fashionable, and popularised the wearing of black ties with dinner jackets, instead of white tie and tails.

29. On 26 September 1875, King Edward VII set off for India on an extensive eight-month tour; on the way, he visited Malta, Brindisi and Greece.

30. King Edward VII cultivated politicians from all parties, including republicans, as his friends, and thereby largely dissipated any residual feelings against him.

31. King Edward VII annoyed his mother by siding with Denmark on the Schleswig-Holstein Question in 1864 and in the same year annoyed her again by making a special effort to meet Giuseppe Garibaldi.

32. King Edward VII was sent summaries of important government documents, but she refused to give him access to the originals.

33. From this time, King Edward VII gained a reputation as a playboy.

34. King Edward VII had hoped to pursue a career in the British Army, but his mother vetoed an active military career.

35. King Edward VII tried to meet the expectations of his parents, but to no avail.

36. At age seven, King Edward VII embarked on a rigorous educational programme devised by Prince Albert, and supervised by several tutors.

37. King Edward VII was known as Bertie to the royal family throughout his life.

38. King Edward VII was the eldest son and second child of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

39. King Edward VII was born at 10:48 in the morning on 9 November 1841 in Buckingham Palace.

40. King Edward VII reinstituted traditional ceremonies as public displays and broadened the range of people with whom royalty socialised.

41. King Edward VII travelled throughout Britain performing ceremonial public duties, and represented Britain on visits abroad.

42. King Edward VII was heir apparent to the British throne and held the title of Prince of Wales for longer than any of his predecessors.