King Edward VII was the second child and first son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. His elder sister, Princess Victoria, was one year older. At his birth, Edward replaced his sister as first in line of succession to the UK throne. King Edward VII was known as Bertie throughout his life.
As the eldest son of the British sovereign, Edward was automatically Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay at birth. As the son of Prince Albert, he also held the titles of Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Duke of Saxony.
On December 8th 1841, Queen Victoria created Edward, then just 30 days old, as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. Queen Victoria also created him Earl of Dublin on January 17th 1850.
Coronation
King Edward VII ascended to the throne on January 22nd 1901 at the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. His coronation was held in Westminster Abbey on August 9th 1902, in a ceremony conducted by the 80-year-old Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was the first British monarch of the his father's House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. King George V, King Edward VII's son, renamed the House as the House of Windsor during the First World War.
Birth and Parents
King Edward VII was born on November 9th 1841 in Buckingham Palace, the second child and first son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. King Edward VII was baptised Albert Edward on January 25th 1842 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Wedding to Princess Alexandra of Denmark
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and others members of his family, contrived to engineer a meeting between Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the eldest daughter of Prince Christian of Denmark and his wife Princess Louise. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had decided that Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra should marry.
Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra became engaged on September 9th 1862 at Laeken in Belguim. The couple were married on March 10th 1863 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle when he was 21 and she was only 18.
Children
King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra had six children:
- Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, born on January 8th 1864
- Prince George, born on June 3rd 1865, who became King George V
- Princess Louise, born on February 27th 1867
- Princess Victoria, born on July 6th 1868
- Princess Maud, born on November 26th 1869
- Prince Alexander John, born on April 6th 1871
Death and Burial
King Edward VII died on May 6th 1910 in Buckingham Palace, after suffering for a number of years from bronchitis, exacerbated by being a heavy smoker. He was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Sources:
The Official Website of the British Monarchy
Mark Tibbits - A professional writer and educator who writes about Astrology, South Asia/China, the UK, the British Royal Family, and Religion.
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