Edward VII: Playboy Prince

greatreporter.com, October 5th, 2007

A Real Handful

Born in 1841, Edward was troubling to his family from the outset. Given to terrible tantrums, the young Prince required careful watching in case he hurt himself or others. The pattern was set: Edward was to prove a headache for his parents for the rest of their lives.

Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert were staunch believers in tradition and restraint. It's no surprise that they were terribly vexed by the heavy-drinking, gambling, fun-loving Edward . "The systematic idleness," wrote the Queen, "fills me with indignation!"

Prince Albert 's death further soured Victoria 's feelings towards her son. She firmly believed that the scandal caused by Edward 's recent dalliance with a young actress had sent her agitated husband to an early grave. The unforgiving Victoria stripped Edward of his Royal obligations and tried to keep him out of the public eye. This only worsened the situation as the bored Prince threw himself into yet more adventures.

Edward 's marriage to Princess Alexandra in 1863 did not change his ways. The affairs kept coming. First there was Lady Langtry , a famous beauty (and married woman) who was specifically chosen after he saw her portrait. Then came Sarah Bernhardt , one of the most famous actresses of the time. He was so besotted that he even turned up on stage with her – playing a corpse! Yet another conquest was Lady Randolph Churchill , the mother of Winston .

By middle age, Edward had a waist measuring forty-eight inches. This isn't surprising when you consider how he enjoyed five full meals a day. He was also an enthusiastic smoker, consuming twelve cigars and twenty cigarettes every day.

Edward 's final affair lasted from his days as a Prince all the way to his death. Married to a Colonel, Alice Keppel became Edward 's mistress in 1898 and enjoyed a degree of acceptance, even when Edward became King. Her own husband even regarded her affair with Edward as a patriotic act. Most remarkably, Alice Keppel – mistress of the Prince of Wales – was the great-grandmother of Camilla Parker Bowles !