Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Early life

Edward was born at 10:48am on 9 November 1841 at Buckingham Palace. His mother was Queen Victoria, the only daughter of Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and granddaughter of King George III. His father was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, first cousin and consort of Victoria. Christened Albert Edward (after his father and maternal grandfather) at St. George's Chapel, Windsor on 25 January 1842, his godfather was Frederick William IV of Prussia. He was known as Bertie throughout his life.

Related Topics:
9 November - 1841 - Buckingham Palace - Queen Victoria - Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent - King George III - Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - Consort - St. George's Chapel, Windsor - 25 January - 1842 - Frederick William IV of Prussia

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As the eldest son of a British sovereign, he was automatically Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. As a son of Prince Albert, he also held the titles of Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Duke of Saxony. Queen Victoria created her son Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 8 December 1841. He was created Earl of Dublin and a Knight of the Garter on 9 November 1853 and a Knight of the Thistle on 24 May 1867. In 1863, he renounced his succession rights to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in favor of his younger brother, Prince Alfred, later Duke of Edinburgh.

Related Topics:
Duke of Cornwall - Duke of Rothesay - Earl of Carrick - Baron Renfrew - Lord of the Isles - Duke of Saxony - Prince of Wales - 8 December - 1841 - Earl of Dublin - Knight of the Garter - 9 November - 1853 - Knight of the Thistle - 24 May - 1867 - Prince Alfred, later Duke of Edinburgh

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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert determined that their eldest son should have an education that would prepare him to be a model constitutional monarch. At age seven, Bertie embarked upon a rigorous educational program devised by the Prince Consort, and under the supervision of several tutors. However, unlike his elder sister, the Prince of Wales did not excel in his studies. He tried to meet the expectations of his parents, but to no avail. He was not a diligent student and his true talents were those of charm, sociability, and tact. Other observers in his youth found him to be spoiled, lazy, and occasionally cruel.

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The Prince of Wales hoped to pursue a career in the British Army, but this was denied him because he was heir to the throne. He did serve briefly in the Grenadier Guards in 1861; however, this was largely a sinecure. He was advanced from the rank of lieutenant to colonel in a matter of months. In October 1859, he matriculated as an undergraduate at Christ Church, Oxford. In 1861, he transferred to Trinity College, Cambridge, but he never received a degree.

Related Topics:
British Army - Grenadier Guards - 1861 - Sinecure - October - 1859 - Christ Church, Oxford - Trinity College, Cambridge

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In his youth, he gained a reputation as a playboy. In December 1861, his father died from typhoid two weeks after visiting Bertie at Cambridge; Prince Albert had reprimanded his son after the latter's affair with an actress became the subject of newspaper gossip. The Queen, who was inconsolable and wore mourning for the rest of her life, blamed Bertie for his father's death. She regarded her son as frivolous, indiscreet, and irresponsible. As a joke of the period went, "How is the Queen like the weather? Because she reigns , and reigns, and reigns... and never gives the poor son a chance."

Related Topics:
December - 1861

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