HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII. [Illustration: THE KING _From the Painting by Archibald Stuart Wortley, published by Henry Graves and Co._] HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII. BY MRS. BELLOC-LOWNDES AUTHOR OF ‘THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MARQUISE’ ILLUSTRATED London GRANT RICHARDS 9 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C. 1901 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