On 6th May 1910 he suffered a heart attack and died soon afterwards. In the Spring of 1910, Bertie developed bronchitis. He was instrumental in securing the Entente Cordiale, a treaty of mutual assistance between France and Britain, in 1904. Due to his lifestyle he gained the nickname ‘Playboy King’.īertie underwent an operation to have his appendix removed in 1902 and five years later had treatment for a rodent ulcer.ĭespite being in poor health King Edward made a number of overseas official visits. At the time of his accession, aged 60 years, he was the longest serving Prince of Wales in British history. Queen Victoria died on 22nd January 1901 and Bertie succeeded as King Edward VII. Next came more affairs including another actress Sarah Bernhardt and Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill.īertie met Allice Keppel in 1898 and they began an affair that would last the rest of the Prince’s life.

Soon afterwards the affair ended when Lillie began an affair with the Earl of Shrewsbury. Two years later it was rumoured that the Prince would be cited in divorce proceedings brought about by Langtry’s husband. The prince continued to enjoy drinking, smoking, socialising and womanising.Īfter several brief affairs, Bertie began an affair with married actress Lillie Langtry in 1877. Victoria and Albert had hoped marriage would make Bertie settle down and become devoted to his wife, children and royal duties. Alexander died shortly after birth and the eldest son, Albert died at the age of 28 years. The couple had six children – Albert, George, Louise, Victoria, Maud and Alexander. They lived at Marlborough House in London and Sandringham House in Norfolk. Marriage and FamilyĪlbert Edward proposed to Alexandra of Denmark on 9th September 1862 and the couple married six months later in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. When Albert died of typhoid a month later, Bertie’s mother, Queen Victoria blamed him for causing his father’s death by putting him under too much stress.

His parents were furious and despite being ill, Prince Albert travelled to Cambridge to reprimand his son. In November 1861 Bertie had a liaison with the actress Nellie Clifden. He is recorded as being a likeable, sociable young man with the ability to get on with people. Many contemporaries state that the Prince found it easier to learn from people rather than study an academic curriculum. In 1859 Bertie entered university but did not gain a degree. Unfortunately Bertie was not an academic and constantly fell short of his father’s expectations. The young prince was created Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles and Baron Renfrew when he was born and Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester a month later.īertie’s educational programme was drawn up by his father and delivered by private tutors. He was the couple’s second child, his sister Victoria had been born in 1840. King Edward VII was born Albert Edward to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Buckingham Palace, London on 9th November 1841. Short Biography Early Years and Education

Queen victoria family tree