author
King of Great Britain Edward VII
1841–1910
Born to rule but forced to wait for decades, this lively and sociable monarch stepped onto the throne at nearly sixty and gave his name to the Edwardian age. His reign was short, yet he became a popular royal figure and a familiar presence in British public life.
1 Audiobook
Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888
by King of Great Britain Edward VII
About the author
Before he became king, Edward VII spent most of his life as Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Born at Buckingham Palace on November 9, 1841, he was known to family and friends as Bertie. Because his mother reigned for so long, he remained heir to the throne for decades and only became king in 1901.
As monarch, he ruled the United Kingdom and the British dominions and also held the title Emperor of India. He was widely seen as charming, sociable, and at ease in public life, and his name became attached to the Edwardian era. He had married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863, and together they had a large family that linked the British royal house with many other European dynasties.
Edward VII died on May 6, 1910. Although his reign lasted less than ten years, he left a strong impression as a visible, modern public monarch whose court and character helped shape the tone of the early twentieth century.