Card of the Day: H.R.H. King Edward VII

I believe the emperor of Germany hates me
 - King Edward VII (on rising tensions with his nephew Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany)

Ah, here’s King Edward VII—eldest son of Queen Victoria and father of King George V. Queen Victoria had the same confidence in her eldest son that King George V had in his (King Edward VIII)—none. As I’ve mentioned before, Queen Victoria always resented Edward for his part in the death of her beloved husband. Edward—always a cad—had gotten himself involved with an unsavory woman. When Prince Albert went to intervene in his son’s affairs, he further weakened his already precarious health—dying weeks later. After that, Victoria always considered her eldest son to be irresponsible, frivolous and indiscreet.

In fact, while most monarch’s would allow the Prince of Wales so degree of involvement in matters of state, Victoria kept her son out of the family business until about 1898 when her age and her health had weakened her. Even still, she didn’t let the heir apparent do anything too important.

One thing that Edward VII did do properly was public appearances. Considering his mother’s self-imposed reclusive tendencies, Edward and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark, often appeared in public on her behalf. It was Edward who made the habit of members of the Royal Family attending ribbon cuttings and opening events an important part of their official duties.

Let’s see, what else did he do? He smoked, bet on horses, cheated on his wife and spent money. His reign wasn’t too long—less than a decade. Thankfully, George V did not take after his father.