Obscure Book of the Day: Royal Romances, King Edward VII and Princess Alexandra

This magazine in the tenth of a series entitled “Royal Romances: The Love Affairs that Shapes History.” It was published in 1990 by the British firm of Marshall Cavendish and chronicles the strange marriage of the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.


We all know that Edward was a philanderer. He made no secret of it. Alexandra knew, and pretended not to mind. The love and attention she didn’t receive from her husband was given to her by the Empire whose citizens adored her for her charm, humor and beauty.

What’s interesting is that this magazine, which is meant to chronicle a great love affair, doesn’t shy away from the fact that Edward VII was a gambling carouser who was up to no good. I suppose by 1990—eighty years after the monarch’s death—everyone already knew anyway.

It’s actually quite an interesting little volume—explaining Victoria’s dissatisfaction with her son and heir and the enormous affection shown by Britons for Alexandra who they considered a model of fashion, style and grace. The book is very much pro-Alexandra and leaves out the way in which she tried to control her own children (especially the future King George V and his bride, Mary of Teck).

Let’s take a look inside…

The Little Prince of Wales, known to his family as "Bertie."

When your mummy is the Queen and she says "Get married," one does.

The pairing of Alexandra of Denmark and the Prince of Wales doesn't look at all forced. 

The new castle at Balmoral was decorated by Qieen Victoria in plaids.  Lots of mismatched plaids. 

Both Prince and Princess were style-setters.

Alexandra's wedding gown was a modernized version of her mother-in-law's--Victoria. 

Britons praised Alexandra's long, graceful throat which was always layered in close-fitting jewels.  This was, however,
something that Alexandra did to hide a rather nasty scar on her swanlike neck. 

The happy couple on the day of their coronation in 1902.  To be fair, though Edward VII was a cheater, he did have some affection for his consort and made sure that she had the best of everything. 

Horses and...ladies...were Edward's weaknesses.  Everyone knew.  No one seemed to mind.

Queen Alexandra spent a lot of time alone.  Being quite deaf, she had good eyesight and took an avid interest in the new technology of photography.