While members of the Royal Family traditionally strive to be viewed as figures of high moral standing, it would be an understatement to say that there aren’t some rather questionable skeletons in the closet. Take King Charles’s great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII, for example.
Well-known for his once record-breaking wait for the throne, Queen Victoria’s eldest son was notorious for his appetite when it came to the opposite sex. In 1863, Prince Edward married Princess Alexandra of Denmark at St George’s Chapel, Windsor and they had six children, including King George V.
Despite their marriage and large family, the King had an uncontrollable sexual appetite and conducted many affairs, and, according to most biographers, he had at least 50 mistresses.
This shocking figure is thought to be something that his wife accepted. According to historians, Queen Alexandra knew about her husband’s infidelities and even acknowledged his mistresses.
When it comes to the intricacies of his affairs, Edward was known to be a regular at the best brothel in Paris, Le Chabanais, and even rented his own private room for years in advance. It is said he loved to have sex in a luxurious sphinx bathtub, which was filled with champagne.
As the years went on, Edward gained huge amounts of weight and, in order not to cause injury, he commissioned the French cabinet maker, Louis Soubrier, to build a love chair which allowed him to be with more than one woman at once.
Edward VII had some very notable mistresses in his lifetime. Namely Winston Churchill’s mother, Jennie Churchill (1875-1878). Other famous companions included the actress Lillie Langtry who was his mistress from 1877 to 1880.
He was also associated with Countess Daisy Greville, Nellie Clifden, Lady Susan Vane-Tempest and, most famously, with Alice Keppel from 1898 to his death in 1910. Miss Keppel would later become the great-grandmother of Queen Camilla.
King Edward VII suffered from ill health towards the end of his life and died 115 years ago today after having several heart attacks on May 6, 1910. He refused to be put to bed and was recorded as saying: “No, I shall not give in; I shall go on; I shall work to the end.” He was finally put to bed at 11.30pm and died 15 minutes later.
