✓ Facsimile of first page of letter from Queen Adelaide, dated Funchal, January 21, 1848, to her Grand-Niece, the Princess Royal The Royal Family at Windsor ✓ Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the Prince of Wales leaving Kingstown Harbour, August 1849 ✓ Facsimile of first page of letter, dated August 26, 1849, ✓ First performance of the "Windsor Theatricals" in the Rubens Room, Windsor Castle Scene from Racine's Tragedy of "Athalie" "Die Tafel Birnen," February 10, 1853, play acted by five Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the Prince of Wales at ✓ The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh as Sailor ✓ King Edward VII. as a Sailor, 1854 ✓ Morning Service at Osborne House about 1854 ✓ Drawing executed by King Edward VII. about 1853 Drawings by the Prince of Wales (1855) and by the Duke To face page 216 246 252 Pen and Ink Sketch by Queen Victoria of Princess Beatrice when nearly three years old 344 ✓ The first Portraits of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. in the "Almanach de Gotha " INTRODUCTION "THE most powerful and popular living Sovereign -King Edward VII." It was in these terms that the toast of the great grandson of George III. was enthusiastically honoured by a large gathering of representative Americans assembled in their own country on New Year's Day of the present year. The one remaining link which, as it were, connected the old order of things with the new, was severed just eight days later when the last Parliament of Queen Victoria and the first Parliament of King Edward was dissolved by the King in Council. One has only to contrast the condition of affairs at the beginning of 1901, with that which prevails at the commencement of 1906, to realise not only how much has been effected by the personal influence and exertion of the Sovereign of these realms, and how great must therefore be the interest felt, not only throughout the British Empire but indeed all over the world in everything which can throw new light on the upbuilding and early development of the resourceful, intelligent, vigorous, and wonder-working personality which has, in many cases unaided, effected so much in such a comparatively short space of time. In January 1901 we were in the midst of a costly war which seemed almost interminable; our arch-enemy of those days had just been welcomed with effusion in the French capital; British prestige was seriously threatened throughout the length and breadth of Europe; the only entente cordiale we ever heard of was FrancoRussian; our policy was regarded with universal distrust; we had no friends and the centre of preponderating influence was gradually gravitating towards Berlin. Five years have rolled by since then, and the transformation which has been brought about is as complete as it is startling and satisfactory. Not only are we at peace with all the world, but it seems probable that a constitution will shortly be given to our foes of 1899, 1900, and 1901-loyal subjects of the King in 1906. The tie of common sympathy and interest which unites members of the Anglo-Saxon race on both sides. of the Atlantic has become immeasurably stronger, and no born American possibly enjoys a greater measure of popularity from the border-lands of Canada to the Mexican frontier than King Edward the Peacemaker. As far as England and France are concerned the old friendship of 1855, when the soldiers of both nations fought and suffered shoulder to shoulder on the heights of the Alma, has been restored and intensified, and this in the very year which brought with it the celebration of the centenary of Trafalgar. When the Members of the London County Council returned the visit to England of their colleagues of the Paris Conseil Municipal, President Loubet spoke frankly of the long and pleasant talk he had had nearly seven years ago with the then Prince of Wales, and of the practical results of their more recent meetings on either side of the Channel. King Edward VII. certainly never forgets either his tête-à-tête drive through the streets of Paris with Napoleon, or the gorgeous fête in the galleries of Versailles-the first great festivity of the kind at which he was ever present. All the passing clouds A Powerful Personality which have arisen in the interval are clean forgotten. If the favourite saying of the Imperial host of those days-l'Empire c'est le paix, has long lost all significance, it is not the less true that the future peace of Europe depends very largely on the maintenance of the re-established Anglo-French entente cordiale. The children of those who shouted Vive la Reine in 1855 have cheered Le Roi Pacificateur to the echo, and it seems likely that our "good understanding" with the Third Republic will be of a more lasting character than our alliance with the Second Empire. Since his Majesty's accession the world has witnessed the greatest and bloodiest war which has taken place since all Europe armed itself to resist the unquenchable ambition of Napoleon. It was another "conflict of giants" both by land and sea, and the real extent of the loss of life occasioned by it is probably very imperfectly realised. The importance and utility of the role played by King Edward VII. in first limiting the sphere of hostilities, and then bringing about a peace honourable alike to both the belligerent parties, is an open secret in the Chancelleries of Europe. There is no foreign capital which his Majesty has visited since his succession to the throne in which he has not left behind him a legacy of "improved relations." His innate tact and knowledge of statecraft are as remarkable as his dauntless energy and phenomenal activity. As abroad so at home. No movement of public interest or utility escapes his notice; no detail is too insignificant for his personal attention. Both the King and Queen have become the patrons and protectors of our old hospitals, and the promoters of new ones. The crusade against Disease, and especially the combating of those maladies which affect the poor, is a struggle in which his Majesty never tires. Sir James Crichton Browne has recently described him as the hygienic reformer of the age, adding very happily to his remarks on the progress of material sanitation that "The King has raised hygiene into a higher sphere, for he has helped to establish healthy and wholesome relations between the different nations of the earth. His Majesty has purified the streams of international sentiment and has shown us one of the ways in which that horrible epidemic, war, may be warded off." King Edward VII. is never idle. He is credited rightly or wrongly with working twelve hours every day. At one moment he is conferring with General Booth or Prebendary Carlile on their life-work amongst the poor and helpless; at another he is encouraging thrift by inaugurating the central buildings of some great Benefit Society. An octogenarian soldier appeals in vain for the restoration of his medals lost years ago in a London crowd. He writes of his sorrow to the King, and in due course gets them back from the War Office authorities. On the other hand, a second veteran makes the Press ring with the cruel injustice of the withholding of a pension to which he is entitled as one of the buglers at Waterloo. The King orders a careful investigation, and the imposture is once and for all unmasked and disposed of. Nor is his Majesty ever unmindful of the friends and associations of the boyhood with which this volume deals. A set of the much-coveted apartments at Hampton Court falls vacant. They are promptly bestowed on the only surviving niece of Miss Hildyard, the trusted governess to the children of Queen Victoria, of whom mention will often be made in these pages. It is a self-evident fact that in the upbringing good or bad of princes, lies the happiness of nations. |