EDWARD VII 



2806 



EDWARD VII 



Edward VII. 1. Aged eleven, from a painting by Winterhalter. 2. A photograph at the age of 21. 3. Edward and 

 Alexandra on the eve of their wedding, from a drawing. 4. King Edward in his study. 5. As Admiral of the Fleet. 

 6. As Field-marshal 



won the Derby thrice was an 

 offence, and others who blamed 

 him for what appeared to be an 

 undue tendency to select his 

 friends from among those who 

 shunned the sterner walks of life. 

 These feelings were expressed by 

 the country generally when, in 

 1891, a famous lawsuit followed 

 a scandal at cards on an occasion 

 when the prince of Wales was 

 banker. Little more than six 

 months later in January, 1892 

 the prince's eldest son, the duke 

 of Clarence, who had just been 

 betrothed to his cousin, Princess 

 Victoria Mary of Teck, died, and 

 all was forgotten in sympathy 

 with so tragic a grief. This sorrow 

 did much to draw prince and people 

 more closely together, and when, 

 on January 22, 190), he ascended 

 the throne, affectionate regard was 

 merged in ready and loyal homage. 



7. In his coronation robes 



\otos: 4 and 5. Russell; 6, Lafayette ; 7. Downey 



Edward became king in his 

 sixtieth year. With much intuition, 

 a quick and flexible mind readily 

 open to new impressions, and a clear 

 appreciation of the functions of a 

 limited monarch, he associated 

 much of the tenacity of his family 

 with an extraordinary knowledge 

 of men and affairs and unfailing 

 industry. 



King Edward's aptitude for 



that his diplomacy averted war 

 between Sweden and Norway in 

 1905 when the two countries dis- 

 solved partnership, and the con- 

 solidation of a good understanding 

 with Russia owed much to his per- 

 sonal efforts. It has been hotly 

 denied that he had any influence 

 whatever in bringing about the 

 entente with France. It is neverthe- 

 less idle to suppose that his friend- 



kingcraft now began to enjoy the ship with French presidents and 



scope it had hitherto lacked, and 

 in the spring of 1903 he paid a series 

 of visits devoted to strengthening 

 the bonds of friendship between 

 Great Britain, France, Italy, and 

 Portugal. Three visits with a simi- 

 lar object were paid to Ireland, 

 and later he went twice to Ger- 

 many, where the ex -Kaiser bore 

 public testimony to his uncle's 

 " unremitting endeavours" in the 

 cause of peace. It is an open secret 



politicians, and his own frank 

 delight in France and appreciation 

 of the French character, can have 

 counted for nothing. 



King Edward's death came in 

 the midst of the heavy political 

 anxieties attendant upon the 

 sharp conflict between the two 

 houses which issued Jn the Parlia- 

 ment Act. He fell quickly before 

 an attack of bronchitis, and died 

 May 6, 1910; he had reigned for a 



