Chapter I: Preface

_This book, originally published as a Life of the Prince of Wales, has now been much enlarged and brought up to the latest date, including His Majesty’s Accession and the events which followed. Fresh illustrations have also been added. It is believed that no previous attempt has been made to present a connected account of the Kings life, although isolated portions of His Majesty’s manifold activities have been treated of by various writers. Thus the author of the present work acknowledges considerable indebtedness to the Honble. Mrs. Grey’s “Journal of a Visit to Egypt, Constantinople, the Crimea, Greece, etc., in the Suite of the Prince and Princess of Wales”; to Sir W. H. Russell’s delightful volumes on their Majesties’ tour in the East and the King’s tour in India (from which two illustrations are reproduced); and to Sir H. C. Burdett’s “Prince, Princess, and People,” which deals mainly with the philanthropic work of the King and Queen. A large number of memoirs have also been consulted, including those of the Prince Consort, the Duchess of Teck, Baron Stockmar, Archbishop Magee, Archbishop Benson, Dean Stanley, and Canon Kingsley._

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER I

AN APPRECIATION 1

CHAPTER II

BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS 5

CHAPTER III

THE KING’S BOYHOOD 22

CHAPTER IV

OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE, AND THE CURRAGH 34

CHAPTER V

THE KING’S VISIT TO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES 43

CHAPTER VI

DEATH OF THE PRINCE CONSORT--TOUR IN THE EAST 55

CHAPTER VII

THE WEDDING OF KING EDWARD AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA 63

CHAPTER VIII

EARLY MARRIED LIFE 83

CHAPTER IX

THEIR MAJESTIES’ TOUR IN EGYPT AND THE MEDITERRANEAN 103

CHAPTER X

THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR--THE KING’S ILLNESS 125

CHAPTER XI

1873-1875 136

CHAPTER XII

THE KING’S TOUR IN INDIA 143

CHAPTER XIII

QUIET YEARS OF PUBLIC WORK, 1876-1887--VISIT TO IRELAND--QUEEN
VICTORIA’S GOLDEN JUBILEE 159

CHAPTER XIV

SILVER WEDDING OF KING EDWARD AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA--ENGAGEMENT
AND MARRIAGE OF PRINCESS LOUISE 171

CHAPTER XV

THE BACCARAT CASE--BIRTH OF LADY ALEXANDRA DUFF--THE KING’S
FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY--ILLNESS OF PRINCE GEORGE 179

CHAPTER XVI

THE DUKE OF CLARENCE AND AVONDALE 184

CHAPTER XVII

THE HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES--MARRIAGE OF PRINCE
GEORGE--THE DIAMOND JUBILEE--DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF TECK 200

CHAPTER XVIII

LATER YEARS--A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE KING--GRADUAL
RECOVERY--THE ATTEMPT ON THE KING’S LIFE 220

CHAPTER XIX

THE KING AS A COUNTRY SQUIRE 235

CHAPTER XX

THE KING IN LONDON 251

CHAPTER XXI

THE KING AND STATE POLICY 262

CHAPTER XXII

THE KING AND THE SERVICES 268

CHAPTER XXIII

THE KING AND FREEMASONRY 279

CHAPTER XXIV

THE KING AS A PHILANTHROPIST 287

CHAPTER XXV

THE KING AS A SPORTSMAN 296