The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince

by Jane Ridley

King Edward the VII, affectionately called Bertie, was fifty-nine when he took the throne in 1901, upon the death of his mother Queen Victoria. To everyone's great surprise, this playboy prince sobered up and became an extremely effective leader and the founder of England's modern monarchy. For readers of Sally Bedell Smith's Elizabeth the Queen and Robert K. Massie's Catherine the Great.

"This is not only the best biography of King Edward VII; it's also one of the best books about royalty ever published." So began the London Independent's review of this wonderfully entertaining biography of Britain's playboy king-a Prince Charles of the Victorian age, only a lot more fun-who waited for nearly six decades to get his chance to rule. A notorious gambler, glutton and womanizer (he was dubbed "Edward the Caresser"), the world was his oyster as this aging Prince of Wales took advantage of his royal entitlements to travel, hunt, socialize, over-indulge-he smoked a dozen cigars a day-and bed a string of mistresses and married women in addition to his own wife. His mother Queen Victoria despaired: "Bertie, I grieve to say, shows more and more how totally, totally unfit he is for ever becoming king." And yet by the time he died in 1910, after only nine years on the throne, he had proven to be a hard working, effective king and an ace diplomat, at home and abroad.

A bestseller in the UK, this "exhaustively researched, richly colorful and wittily observed biography" (the London Sunday Times) is a tremendously entertaining read for history buffs and royal watchers.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Royalty, British Literature, Historical

752 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2010

About the author

Jane Ridley is an English historian, biographer, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Modern History at the University of Buckingham.

Reviews

[Jeffrey Keeten · Rating 4 out of 5]

”The accession of an overweight fifty-nine-year-old philanderer hardly thrilled the imagination. ‘We grovel before fat Edward---Edward the Caresser as he is privately named,’ wrote Henry James, who thought the new King was ‘quite particularly vulgar!’ Rudyard Kipling referred to him as a ‘corpulent voluptuary.’

Few kings have come to the throne amid lower expectations.”


It wasn’t that he was getting bigger. It was that his uniforms were shrinking.

The expectations on Edward, or Bertie as the family called him, were high. His father, Albert, hired a succession of tutors who kept him studying from early in the morning until late at night. He did not do well at his studies, which could have something to do with the insane hours he was supposed to be assimilating new information, or it could have had a lot to do with the brilliance of his older sister, Victoria or Vicky, who excelled at her studies. His best did not compete with hers. I don’t need a psychology degree to understand how easily it would be for a decent student to become a bad student if all he meets is perceived failure.

Victoria and Albert had a very close relationship, although early in the marriage there was a power struggle that almost swamped the marriage. Albert asserted himself and believed that he was more powerful than what the Queen was willing to let him be. It was eventually worked out to mutual satisfaction. A similar circumstance existed between Elizabeth and Philip early in their marriage. In both cases, some of the issues existed more with people surrounding the circumstances who believed that it was better to have a man in control than a woman.

Bertie went on maneuvers with the military in Ireland to gain some experience, and while there, he decided that he also needed to gain some experience in another area of maneuvers called wrestling with an actress/prostitute.


Ireland made a “man” out of Bertie.

Albert and Victoria were informed. Now, what kind of squinty-eyed, arse kisser turned the lad in? Regardless, Albert rushed to Ireland to give this twenty-year-old “boy” a tongue lashing. When he got back, he sickened and died at the tender age of 42. Victoria was inconsolable and blamed Bertie for his father’s death for the rest of her life. ”This book has revealed the angry feelings---at times murderous---of Victoria toward her eldest son. It sometimes seemed that she could never forgive Bertie for his ‘Fall’, which, she believed, had caused Albert’s illness and death.”

There were other issues, like the fact that he didn’t look like or act like his father. She had expected a carbon copy of Albert, and she got someone who was quite different from herself or from her husband. He was Bertie, all original, and by hereditary right, despite his mother’s feelings, he was going to be the next King of England. The Prince of Wales, knowing that he could never please his mother or ever really receive her forgiveness, concentrated instead on pleasing and forgiving himself.


Edward, a man intent on pleasure.


Alix, the woman who waited for him.

He married the beautiful Alexandra (Alix) of Denmark. Even as she got older, she retained her loveliness, and even her three daughters, obviously much younger than her, could not rival her in any of the photographs that they took together. ”Alix developed her own distinctive style--not cutting edge, but always right for every occasion. Conscious of her beauty---how could she not be?---she thrived on the admiring glances she attracted in glittering ballrooms.”

Bertie loved her, but he couldn’t be faithful to her. He, after all, was…

Edward the Caresser.

There are women, 55 by someone’s count, with whom he had some type of improper relationship. For the most part, they were married women, which makes me think, the author Jane Ridley did not assert this, that his attraction to Dames instead of Lasses might have something to do with receiving affection that he never received from his mother. Not an excuse mind you, but he was in constant need of comfort and reassurance. How could one woman give a man in need of that much ego enough of either? He also sought comfort in food. His appetite was monstrous, and soon he became that rotund individual that Henry James (who was not exactly a stringbean) and Rudyard Kipling made fun of in print.

Did his mistresses lie back, close their eyes, and think of England?

I do feel bad for Bertie because his life was never easy, but I feel worse for Alix, who did everything that was expected of her, including giving him an heir but also a spare who turned out to be necessary. Despite all his failings, and she was well aware of them, she always loved him. In a world where spouses routinely condemn one another for any failings, I found her stoicism, her loyalty, and her grace something to admire.

Sometimes it is good to start out with everyone having such extremely low expectations. Strangely enough, Bertie turned out to be pretty good at the King business. His mother had retired from public life, becoming almost a recluse, and he and Alix had filled in the role of Royalty whenever they could. When he became King, he brought back the pageantry of the position that had not been seen in a long time. He issued more commemorative medals and made sure he was publicly available for special events. He had a vision of creating a more liberal Europe. (The death of Rudolf in Austria was a huge blow to his efforts. He felt, like many do, that the Germans had a hand in that “suicide.”) He built on what his parents began by fostering alliances through the marriages of his siblings and children. He negotiated peace, which was admirable, but through those assurances he enlisted from various countries, he may have actually laid the groundwork for WW1.

That is called a swift kick in the old buttocks

Doesn’t it always seem like when someone tries to change the direction of history for the better that, ultimately, the world shrugs its shoulders, and things manage to align themselves back in the same groove or actually make things worse? Things going wrong have a much bigger impact on us, and all we can think about are those WHAT IFS that would have made things better. When things go right, we don’t think about how things could have went very, very badly.

When Edward the VII died, I was shocked that my eyes actually teared up. I would like to blame the horseradish sauce that was on my cheeseburger, but all I can really think is that I’d spent so many hours with Bertie that I actually felt like I knew him. Well written biographies do that for readers.

Alix, of course, did her final duty for Bertie. ”When the coffin was lowered into the vault, she knelt down and covered her face with both her hands, and everyone wept. Margot watched from her seat in the choir nearby: ‘That single mourning figure kneeling under the faded banners and coloured light, will always remain among the most beautiful memories of my life.’”

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[Geevee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book although not an official biography was written with full and unimpeded access to the royal archives with permission from Her Majesty The Queen. In itself this ensures a readability and depth but it is also at odds to what Edward VII (or Bertie as he was known by his family) would have allowed or indeed wanted.

Bertie the playboy, who lived a life of pleasure and party as a young man until well into his adult life, was also an intensely private man who tried hard within his diary and through his courtiers and (most of the) women friends after his death to hide the details of his private life.

Jane Ridley has amassed a wealth of detail that puts much more to the story of Bertie and his life as a boy, young man, middle aged playboy and finally monarch. Through information held in the Royal Archives but also by diligent research in other known and some new sources mainly in papers of those who touched Bertie's life, the author tells a fine story of a royal life.

We read of his childhood and how he was treated by father and mother who despaired of his abilities and application in his studies. Queen Victoria was convinced he would make a poor king and wrote to him constantly pointing out his failings and picking holes. She ensured he was unable to receive or have sight of the red boxes with state papers in that constituted the daily business for the monarch to review. Not only this but she would rarely if ever discuss state business leaving him in the dark; or so she thought. Bertie, through his travels and assignations including to countries of his relations and fellow royals (e.g., Germany, Denmark, Russia, Austria, Italy) ensured he understood very well relationships and tensions within Europe. He spoke German and French fluently too.

His marriage was settled with a genuine affection for each other but interspersed with his affairs and/or close relationships this put strain Alix (Princess Alexandra) who fell ill, suffered childbirth and became increasingly deaf.

His accession brings a new era and a triumph for Bertie. He understands better than his mother did how the public wanted to see their monarch. He also plays a strong part in the Entente Cordiale and worked hard to ensure peace and harmony amongst Russia, Germany, Denmark and Austria; although by the end of his reign he was convinced war with his nephew's Germany was certain through Wilhelm's behaviour.

His charitable work also features including the many hospitals built through his fund including King Edward VII's Hospital for Officers (today King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes) and the King's Fund are two legacies.

The relationships with his women is well explored but it is his relationships with politicians and those who supported or accompanied him that the book - or rather the author - brings a whole new understanding to. Salisbury, Jackie Fisher, Balfour, Asquith, Lloyd-George and Churchill all featuring and behind the scenes (of public life or as reported at the time) is very strong as the Royal Archives and other papers broaden, counteract or highlight new information to Bertie's work and how he interacted with his Government/s.

The lead up to Bertie's death with his deteriorating health and the treatments given is very well written. The final chapter - after the king has died - is also excellent providing a short yet forthright view of biographies on Bertie and how they have been written.

Jane Ridley has written a very good book indeed. I feel she likes her subject (or king rather!) but is equally appalled and frustrated with him. It is clear though that Ms Ridley is no fan of Prince Albert or Queen Victoria in the context of their relationship and treatment of Bertie.

Bertie: A Life of Edward VII shows the playboy but also a good king who in nine years did much to change the monarchy, tried hard to keep Europe at peace with his diplomacy and by cementing Britain's ties with France, reforming the army and navy, and made the monarchy popular and visible as it hadn't been since Albert died - Lying in state the police at the doors estimated some 10,000 people filed past his coffin an hour with over 400,000 paying their respects in total; more than those who saw Victoria. Prince Hal indeed.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In length, this is a long biography, but it certainly didn’t feel so. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book, about a monarch I actually knew very little about. Bertie was the first Prince of Wales since 1772 and was the second child, and first son, of Victoria and Albert. You would have thought nothing would have pleased Queen Victoria more than giving birth to an heir – you would be wrong. Victoria was displeased at being pregnant so quickly again, after having her daughter, Vicky. Bertie was a large baby and it was a difficult birth. Vicky was Albert’s favourite child – intelligent and like him in temperament. From the beginning, Bertie was resented by Victoria and criticised by both his parents. He was called unintelligent, he was oppressively supervised, his behaviour was disapproved of, he was despaired of, his clothes, looks and hair remarked on with disfavour. Nothing he did was right and when, after a scandal, Albert caught a chill while travelling to berate him and died shortly afterwards, then the blame of his father’s death was laid at his door as well…

The scandal which caused his parent’s to despair involved a woman and there is much about ‘Edward the Caresser’s,’ women in this book. However, although there are lots of allegations about affairs, gossip and rumours of him fathering children, there is very little that is based in fact. Author, Jane Ridley, only managed to find one woman – outside his marriage - who wrote letters saying she was pregnant by him and it is fair to say that she was not treated too well. Indeed, Bertie’s early life involves endless flirtations, scandals, affairs and even having to appear in Court twice. His reputation suffered so badly that the public booed and hissed him in public. The monarchy itself was under attack, with rumours about Victoria and John Brown adding to unpopularity, as well as criticism of Victoria failing to appear in public. However, just when things looked quite desperate, Bertie became ill and almost died. Immediately, public opinion did a total U-turn, as his illness was watched anxiously by the nation and his eventual recovery met with public sympathy and delight. Much of this sympathy was shown to Bertie’s bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who the public adored.

Rather like Prince Charles, Bertie waited a long while to become King. When Queen Victoria finally died, when he was already 59, he said, “It has come too late.” Again, rather as I imagine the public will view Prince Charles gaining the throne with mixed feelings, Bertie became King with low expectations. This pleasure loving, grandiose figure, was seen as not serious enough for the business of monarchy. Yet, this man, the Uncle of both the Kaiser and the Tsar, was perfectly placed to influence politics and foreign affairs. Both he and his wife viewed Germany with suspicion and was viewed with paranoia by the Kaiser in return – indeed the book ends with Bertie’s fears that his nephew would wage war, after his death in 1910. Yet, he helped to mend relations with France, and, with his love of the theatre, understood – as his mother did not – that people needed to see the pomp and ceremony of royalty. He was not King for long, but his mending bridges, helped England in gaining Allies with France and Russia. He was tolerant of those with other religious faiths; including Roman Catholics and Jews. Perhaps recalling how his father had treated him, he was kind and sympathetic to his own heir, even though he was not at all like him in personality. This is a very well researched portrait of a man who was, as Ridley says, the ‘Uncle of Europe,’ who, surprisingly, was mourned as the, “Father of the People.”

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bertie, son of Queen Victoria, was someone whose life seem to have three clear sections:

1) A fairly tragic childhood - he was an not an academic child, and was badly bullied by his parents, who wanted him to be something he wasn't.

2) King-in-waiting - for many years he lived a fairly dissolute life while Victoria was still on the throne. During this time he was notorious for his activities as a lothario and general spendthrift.

3) King - finally he got to the throne, and seemingly grew up to fill this role surprisingly well.

I only read the first and third sections of the book. I just couldn't face the dense chunk in the middle of the book about his love life and other escapades.

His childhood was sad, but fascinating.

I found the section about his kingship fairly dense and boring.

Finally, at the end of the book there was a chapter entitled "Conclusion"....and this was excellent. A very good synopsis of the changing role of the royal family under Victoria and then Bertie. It also discusses well his merits as king.

I feel this review is very jumpy and patchy, but that was how I experienced the book.

Another problem was that there was little in the book that was new to me. I don't think I came to understand anything from reading it that I didn't know already, all it did was fill in a lot of detail, and that isn't always a good thing.

Note: In America this book has a different title.....The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good biography of Bertie,the playboy prince.
He was the oldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

He was a poor student, and it is thought he may have had learning disabilities.

His parents bullied him, and he was given harsh discipline.

As a young man, he became
rebellious, and with the encouragement of his school chums,he began an affair with an actress trollop, smoked cigars, and drank.

When his father was informed, Albert was outraged. When Albert traveled to Oxford to have a stern talk with his son, he became seriously ill when he returned back to Windsor castle.

It was believed to be Typhoid Fever, which was usually lethal at the time.

Victoria blamed her son Edward for contributing to Albert's death and not the contaminated water at Windsor.

Edward did become crowned much later in life at 59 yrs old. It was on the death of his mother, Victoria.
She resented him her whole life and gave him no responsibilities or her respect.
He enjoyed his professional beauties, food and drink, gambling, and parties right to the end.

Four Stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. This is non-fiction done from supreme survey of letters, documents, research and witness. It took Jane Ridley 6- 7 years before she got to her final scope form. Queen Elizabeth allowed her to use the Royal Archives and others of prime descendants also "let her read" and study.

Does it show. Because his was a life of supreme advantage, change of location, "eyes" for big events and political deeds etc. It was also totally in Bertie style. Yet from his birth he was always under valued and treated horrendously by his Mother, especially- he was kept from the crux of his eventual role by her for all his mid-life 30 plus years, as well. He didn't become King until he was 59 and sick himself already! Well, he did far better and had more skill and diplomacy at his royal work than the mere years of his reign suppose in record.

I read the Kindle version and it was lacking in the ease to access all the footnotes after each chapter and especially the charts and photographs. More than the "artists" or Romantic poets or any of those crowds of "bad boys and girls" his following, crowd, society did effect "change" toward another morality. And not only the sexual. For one thing they had so many more servants and mobile access, beyond the money/jewels/power of "guest". (That Victoria and Albert ship sounds incredible.) Yet, I would suggest getting this in hard copy form. Because you will be "with it" quite a while. This is a tome of tomes and took at least 3 times as long to read as a normal 400 pager. The entire last 24% of the Kindle copy (700 plus pages) was research references, more footnote source material and "after" Bertie's death criteria for his written word. As well as some Alix and Kaiser William intersects with all that "changing the world" that happened within the WWI era.

A Playboy Prince is not truly stating it accurately, IMHO. His crowd was the original hedonists. And the women of long years house party and racing or hunting or opera or live theater accompanying- at least two or three decades of such before his "work" truly begun! (And in his 20's to mid-30's those years especially, his exits were heartless. Truly.) Well that entertainment feature is only put in the shade by the meals. And the fortunes spent in entertaining him at various estates with those meals and those 3000 pheasants or pigeons at a time hunts. It truly was a different style too for the entertaining. And Alix! (When I see those house party outside photos! The amount of clothing alone is nearly impossible for me to grasp an entire cognition for their "activity" of every sort.)

Because of the many people who have interest to Queen Victoria, from the PBS series or other fare in print now so popular; I would suggest reading this for that set of "eyes" alone. She truly could be a monster to her own children. Not only Bertie at all- some of the others worse. Regardless that at the same time she could flip-flop and "come around" for "back-up" united "fronts" against the larger orders of the governmental world.

And that cooking of 30 or 40 courses for breakfast just in case any of them would be wanted by Alix. And the sickness, illness of so many of these Royal personages suffered for years and years. Which would now be mere month incidents or trifles. And a good OB/GYN or GP! Alix having babies early and within a whole labor that lasted less than an hour! And Vicky's horrendous long suffering and death scenario!

You need to like 600 pages plus of "he said, she wrote back" etc. to love this telling. But it's grasped the entire core of Edward VII. Bertie with his cigar- the extrovert supreme.

[Cindy Knoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book! Who knew that Queen Victoria had palace "newspapers cut into squares for use a lavatory paper!" By now I think we all expect a jolly heap of dysfunction from the British royal family. But this book documents them in spades. The author is thorough and meticulous and she was granted access to previously unavailable archival material, making this book fascinating and almost obscenely intimate in detail.
*
It is shocking to learn how seriously atrocious Queen Victoria was as a parent. One can easily see evidence of impaired maternal/child bonding marching through generations of the British royal family, but Victoria takes the cake. She really seems to have actively disliked her first born son and heir. One of the most disturbing things was reading about the depth of ongoing deprivation in Edward VII's childhood, from crackpot tutors, to a total absence of any friends or playmates, harsh schooling, harsh discipline, harsh Prussian father, detached mother. It really was sadly pathetic.
*
We then get to follow his adult life which is littered with compulsive sexual relationships where he moves though women like Kleenex and overeats to a staggering degree. One doesn't need much knowledge of Freud to see the linkage between Bertie's sexual domination of scores of women and his impotent rage at his disapproving mother. One also can easily see his compulsive overeating as a need for the nurturance he was never provided.
*
But it really isn't these things that surprised me or stayed with me. It was more a sense of ambivalence. Yes, Victoria was a horrible mother. Yes, she was psychologically bizarre. But, she was also a rather stable, committed and certainly life-long public servant committed to her concept of duty. Albeit one with a startlingly beneficent benefits package. Frankly, I would not want her job. It requires too much of oneself.
*
Bertie, the gambler, womanizer, compulsive overeater, is also humanized by this book. I definitely would not have wanted his sad life. And yet when finally freed from his mother's clutches, by her death actually, he also shows marked dedication to service and country.
*
Consider for example, why I am referring to him as Bertie rather than Edward?
*
Because the author does such an excellent job of fleshing him out in skin and bones. He becomes a person, not just a monarch.
Creating this ambivalence in me is quite an accomplishment because I am not one to spend much time sympathizing with royal families.
*
This is a very good book written by a very accomplished author. Highly recommend.

[Jill H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazingly readable and informative book. I had read several book on Edward VII, usually specific to his time as Prince of Wales. The Hanover/Saxe Coburg/ Gotha line of monarchs are not known for their intellectual abilities and many were wastrels. Edward started his adult life as Prince of Wales by earning the reputation of being a womanizing,carousing, and shallow royal who gave his mother, Queen Victoria much heartache. She blamed him for the death of Albert, the Prince Consort and her husband, which was enough to make his life miserable and marked him forever. (He was not the cause of Albert's death but since Victoria did not like her first-born son, he became the scapegoat). Being constantly chastised and corrected drove Edward even deeper into the life of a sybarite. And his marriage to Alexandra of Denmark, only slowed him down for a short time.

But when he finally became King, his life changed. Granted it was his age and possible loss of sexual prowess that reined him in (although he still kept a mistress) but he also started taking interest in governmental policies and the image of the monarchy of Britain. His reign was short (only 9 years) but he became one of the most beloved Kings in English history.

The author has done in-depth research and was given permission by HRH Queen Elizabeth II, to review information in the form of letters and diaries that had previously been confidential. An excellent history of a man whose foibles were left behind when he became King. Recommended.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's shocking what terrible parents Victoria & Albert were. And Bertie got the worst of it from them. (If your just-barely-older sister were a prodigy like Vicky, the apple of her father's eye, you too might give up ever trying to beat her in anything academic. Hopefully your parents wouldn't bring in a phrenologist to diagnose you as mentally degenerate, at age six - which is what his did.)

[Chrissie · Rating 1 out of 5]

ETA: I cannot stop thinking about my star rating. I personally did NOT like this book. That isn't to say it is a bad book, but you have to be ready for a lot of gossip! I am changing my rating to one star because that is my personal response tot this book. Please read below for a more detailed explanation of the book's content.

****************************

While I listened to this audiobook narrated by Carole Boyd I pushed myself to go on. It was that disagreeable….until the end when I was happy I had stuck it out. This book is extremely gossipy. The narration exaggerates this to the point where I could hardly stand it. (Boyd’s French was well executed; I have to praise what I can!) Bertie's life WAS filled with gossip - slander and mistresses and gambling and immoral behavior. He was gossiped about constantly until his death when he was adored. You cannot write a biography of Edward VII, the son of Queen Victoria, without writing about the gossip too. The author’s writing contains tons of gossip, and the narrator is not really at fault when she whispers and draws out sentences, shrieking alternately. The content is gossip and she delivers it in a gossipy manner. But I didn't enjoy it. We are told gossip and then told that probably isn't even true. I was so annoyed I would exclaim, “Then do NOT tell us!” I am wrong because this is what people were saying and the biography should tell us all. The book is clearly very well researched, so I have to give it three stars. No, I didn't enjoy the reading experience, but that is due to my error in choosing an historical figure that would not be to my liking.

What is very interesting is what Edward VII achieved in his reign. He was a political force to contend with, despite the fact that he never gave up his adulterous behavior. The Entente Cordiale was to a large extent of his making.

An additional reason why I had trouble with this book is that Bertie was close-mouthed. He listened. He didn't talk. He never said what he thought so we cannot get inside his head. We can only watch what he does. Neither is this the author's fault.

The double standard of the Victorian Age is extremely evident in this book. This too annoyed ME!

I learned more about Queen Victoria, specifically what she did after the death of her beloved Albert. I highly recommend We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals, but it stops with his death and her role as Queen has to be followed to the end to really understand her. On the other hand Ridley's book does little to elucidate why Queen Victoria's personality; in this book there is no discussion of her youth.

If you don't want the emphasis on the gossipy tone of the book, I recommend reading the paper book over listening to the audiobook. I really hated much of the time spent with this audiobook, but in that it is so well researched I am giving it three stars. And the end was extremely interesting, there is history and facts of a more political nature, that is the years when he was king, and when he was free of Queen Victoria.

[Sherwood Smith]

With full access to the Royal archives as well as a superlatively inexhaustible tour through the many, many memoirs (public and private) of the period, Ridley gives us an immensely readable biography of "the playboy prince" who became King Edward VII. He has not been treated all that well in the historical record. Ridley gets into how, and why (who was responsible) and how subsequent historians neglected to dig deeper, being satisfied to use as primary source the hatchet job by the National Biography, etc. (As indeed has happened to many historical figures)

But the reevaluation of his kingship is the latter, smaller portion of the book. Previous to that the reader is given a quick tour of Victoria and Albert's romance and marriage, and a deep--and disturbing--look at royal parenting. The most disturbing part is that they meant well, underscoring how one had any idea how to raise a future king.

Ridley gives us a close look at Bertie's siblings, their lives and loves (and Bertie had a lot of the latter!), and consequently their children, most of whom ended up on various European thrones, focusing in on the troubled, and troublesome William who dragged Germany in WW I.

I liked the first portion and the last portion best. The middle sometimes felt like a muddle, with constant hitches back and forth in time as Ridley veered between personal life gossip and the political scene, which Victoria determinedly kept Bertie out of.

While I could appreciate Ridley's reportage of both current and subsequent gossip--sometimes telling the reader in footnotes how it was untrue and why, but sometimes leaving judgment to the reader--and I thought fascinating to see how gossip shapes personal histories, sometimes her own vivid descriptions veered too close to novelistic. Such as the inherent judgment in saying that Alix's Mother, the Queen of Denmark, 'scuttled' back home.

Aside from that, I appreciated the massive amount of primary research done, and I ended up scribbling down a number of titles to look out for. I'm glad I bought this in hardcover, for the pages are bristling with quote post its!

[Gary Inbinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several biographies in 2020, all of them excellent. This is one of the best: well-written; well-documented; interesting subject.

Regarding the subject of this biography, I'll quote myself:

"You can be happy or miserable in a shack or a palace. All things considered, it's better to live in the palace."
Gary Inbinder, The Hanged Man

I'm adding a couple of observations concerning life in Queen Victoria's palaces. The Queen liked to cut up newsprint to economize on toilet paper (good idea, IMHO); she wouldn't allow any of the rooms to be heated to a temperature higher than 60 degrees Fahrenheit (bad idea, IMHO).

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire Playground

Edward VII was a colourful character and Jane Ridley does a fantastic job bringing him to life in this epic biography. Having had unrestricted access to the royal archives Ridley has been able to provide a ‘warts and all’ assessment of one of the most charismatic, liberal, selfish and philandering monarchs. Never quite as brilliant as his older sister Victoria, Bertie spent a lifetime as heir and as a result on the sidelines. He had an estranged relationship with both parents and more so after the death of Prince Albert as Queen Victoria ultimately blamed him for it.

Bertie is impressive for its depth and detail, rooted in Ridley’s rigorous scholarship. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including personal letters and diaries, Ridley paints a nuanced picture of Edward, (‘Bertie’ to his family and friends), capturing both his flaws and his virtues. Far from being a mere hedonist, Bertie emerges in Ridley’s narrative as a complex figure, a man who, while often underestimated, possessed a keen political instinct and a deep understanding of the importance of public image, both of which were instrumental in transitioning the British monarchy into the 20th century

What shocked me was that he was forced to give evidence in court, which must have been one of the most surreal events in late Victorian England and shows the power of English Law at the forefront of one of the most forward thinking nations in the world. He sidelined the Kaiser and wooed France, decisions he made which contributed to the outbreak of the First World War. However, he was also able to connect with the working class and cared for all of his subjects regardless of race.

Probably the most fascinating part of Bertie is the depiction of Edward’s fraught relationship with his mother, Queen Victoria. Ridley delves into the emotional and psychological impact of Victoria’s domineering presence, which stunted Bertie’s development and left him unprepared for his role as king until he was well into his middle age. The long wait to ascend the throne, coupled with Victoria’s disdain, is shown to have shaped Bertie’s personality and public behavior, leading to the well-known episodes of scandal and excess.

However, Ridley does not reduce Edward VII to a caricature of excess and irresponsibility. Instead, she argues convincingly that his ability to connect with people, his charm, and his diplomatic skills were vital to the survival of the monarchy at a time when republican sentiments were on the rise across Europe. His modernization of the royal image, including his role in establishing the ceremonial aspects of monarchy that are still in place today, is thoroughly explored, showcasing how he adapted the institution to fit a changing world. This trailblazer in fashion, in the end though will be remembered mostly for his serial womanising, leaving in the shadows his beautiful and partially death wife.

This biography rehabilitates Edward VII and also shows how the monarchy transformed during a pivotal period in its history. Jane Ridley is solid as a historian and her ‘follow up’ to this, Never a Dull Moment, which looks at Edward’s son George V is equally good. I will definitely be revisiting this again.

[Jaylia3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The playboy prince gets some new respect

This cradle to grave biography of Queen Victoria’s colorful, often rebellious son King Edward VII, or Bertie, weaves a detailed, hard-to-stop-reading account of the Victorian and brief but influential Edwardian eras in Britain and the Continent through the lives of their interrelated royals. Belittling, controlling, and emotional, Queen Victoria as seen in The Heir Apparent is a mother you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, much less the future king of Britain.

Author Jane Ridley had new access to royal archives that allowed her to create this somewhat revisionist look at Bertie’s reign, taking his diplomatic successes--including his work to increase the popularity of the royal family--more seriously than previous biographers. There is even an actually interesting Afterward in which the author gives the history behind some of Bertie’s other biographies and critiques them for spin. As someone fascinated by Edwardian and Victorian history, royalty, and literature I found a lot to enjoy in this book.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heir Apparent, Jane Ridley’s biography of King Edward VII, is excellent. Edward, known to his family and close friends as “Bertie,” was the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British crown for 60 years during the long reign of his mother, Queen Victoria. He reigned as King, by contrast, for little more than nine years, from 1901 until his death in 1910.

Ridley has structured the biography in three parts, corresponding with three phases in Bertie’s life: (1) his youth, from his birth in 1841 up to age 30; (2) the three decades of his thirties, forties, and fifties—which Ridley calls his “expanding middle” in humorous reference to his waistline; and (3) his reign as King. It’s an apt organizational choice because it allows Ridley to emphasize several distinct themes that characterized Bertie’s life as he grew older.

In his youth, Bertie showed little promise. His parents, Victoria and Albert, considered him lazy, frivolous, and irresponsible. Victoria—who comes across throughout the book as an awful mother—often expressed her dislike of Bertie because he was so unlike her revered husband, Prince Albert. When Albert died young in 1861, Victoria blamed his death on depression due to the 20-year-old Bertie’s bad behavior. With only rare exceptions throughout her life, Victoria maintained her unfavorable view of her son and despaired at the thought of him succeeding her on the throne.

Bertie tried to please his parents, but as a young boy he was not a diligent student, and there was some truth to Victoria and Albert’s criticisms. However, he was intelligent and a quick study. He learned to speak both French and German fluently. And he was exceptionally charming, a trait that he employed to great advantage first with women beginning in his twenties and later in personal international diplomatic endeavors.

At age 21, Bertie married Princess Alexandra of Denmark, known as “Alix.” Victoria and Albert had decided on the match, but it was not a bad marriage as far as arranged marriages go. Alix clearly loved Bertie. As for Bertie, his affection for Alix did not prevent him from pursuing other women—many other women—throughout his life. Because of his numerous affairs and mistresses, both real and alleged, Bertie became known as the “playboy prince.”

Bertie’s avocation as a ladies’ man took center stage during his middle years. His list of mistresses included some of the most celebrated beauties of the day. Many afternoons were spent at “tea” with one or another of these ladies. On the weekends, Bertie’s life was filled with country house parties, dinners, and shooting (often bagging thousands of birds on a weekend).

Ridley suggests, though, that Bertie’s hyper-social and frivolous lifestyle was not entirely his choice. He made some efforts to become involved in the affairs of government, but Victoria, despite having become a recluse after Albert’s death, clung to her power and did not want Bertie to become privy to any important Court matters or decisions. He did engage in many charitable activities, but he got little credit for them.

During his middle years, Bertie was also building relationships with other monarchs and governments that would prove to benefit him once he became King. It is extraordinary how many of the crowned heads of Europe were related to Bertie and/or Alix, and the charming and diplomatic Bertie was quite skilled at exploiting those relationships for Britain’s benefit (and his own). Even the German Kaiser, his nephew William, who was erratic and antagonistic, was often swayed by Bertie’s charm.

When Bertie became King in 1901, The Times sniped: “We shall not pretend that there is nothing in his long career which those who respect and admire him could not wish otherwise.”

But with his ascension to the throne, Bertie seemed to undergo a radical transformation, becoming a thoughtful, conscientious, and engaged monarch. (He still enjoyed the company of his mistresses, but less so than before.) Perhaps his transformation ought not to have been such a surprise. He was at last free of his domineering mother and allowed to be his own man. He could put his charm and diplomatic skills to use both with his own government and with Britain’s allies and rivals.

Bertie had always enjoyed the ceremonial trappings of royalty, and as King Edward VII he brought a new sense of style to the throne. After decades of Queen Victoria’s dull and dowdy reign, the new splendor that Bertie introduced to the monarchy in the new century was very appealing and popular. The people loved their new King.

The book is long and detailed, but I found it to be quite accessible, despite my fairly sketchy knowledge of British history. (I have to admit, though, that at times I found it difficult to keep all the royals, lords, and ladies straight.) Bertie was a fascinating character, and Ridley has done him justice with a very vivid biography. Her research appears to have been exhaustive. Thanks to authorization from Queen Elizabeth II, Ridley had unprecedented access to many documents in the Royal archives, and she has made good use of numerous other sources as well. The result is a well-researched and well-written biography that is definitely worth reading.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this is the best book that I have read about King Edward VII of Great Britain. Starting with his birth, and the very complicated relationship that he had with his parents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Living a childhood of isolation and high pressure, Bertie found relief in partying hard, the social whirl, travel and especially pretty women. His mistresses were notorious, with one that landed him in a divorce court. But he was lucky enough to marry a beautiful woman, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who was able to provide him with a loving home and children. Unfortunately she couldn't keep him from his mistresses. His first sexual adventure would cause a rift with his mother that was permanent, for his father had exploded with rage when the news came out -- and died less than a month later. But not only was Bertie was a scandal, he was also charming, perceptive, and a quick learner. By the time he became King in 1901, he was an able negotiator and was able to forge alliances with France and Great Britain. This was a fine read, with plenty of analysis and insights. Great for fans of British history or royalty. Five stars overall.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/the_he...

[Alexw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of King Edward who had many royal titles and many more mistresses !!

[Ghost of the Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

- minor editing due to currently reading Ridley's biography of King George V -

Ah Bertie Bertie Bertie, will u ever really cease to be an enigma?

Perhaps Ms. Ridley has finally hit the spot and shown us the man behind the curtain - Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Queen Victoria and her Beloved Albert, better known to history as King Edward VII.

As much as the man himself would have hated it, the truth is you can't approach King Edward without first looking at the absolutely horrid parents Albert and Victoria were , at least when it comes to him, and the miserable childhood/early teens he had - they explain so many of this character traits and actions as an adult.

Born after the brilliantly precocious and, at least to me a very spoiled brat - The Princess Royal Vicky - Bertie was doomed to constant comparing both to her and their father. A father raised to the statute of living god by his seriously troubled wife (I mean, lets face it, Victoria's obsession with Albert would have given the likes of Freud and Jung enough material for at least 3 books!).

Then poor Bertie had the misfortune of resembling his feared Hanover ancestors and misbehaving just a little too much Hanoverian than what prude Albert and Victoria could take, thus ensuing the final meeting/confrontation between father and son, subsequent decline of Albert's health and his death.
Queen Victoria never accepted it but the truth is Albert was an hypochondriac, paranoid with the idea of death and, I sometimes say to myself, wanting to die to get rid of Victoria who sucked the life out of him.

Ok this is sounding way too much like a soap opera, sorry! ...then again maybe that's why all these years later the fascination with Victoria and her family keeps going strong?....

Back to facts

Ridley had privileged access to sources and compiles, perhaps for the first time ever, a biography that depicts Edward in a very real and human way. Its quite telling that she admits to not liking him and at times, wanting to smack him...or whatever it is you can do to kings without being beheaded (Yes Henry VIII talking about you sunshine!). However, as her own understanding of him and his life, both as Queen Victoria's son and then as his own man deepens and broadens, you can see the respect for his achievements and the acknowledgment of his skills and his expertise in foreign policy - gained partly thanks to Queen Victoria's tight grip on power, and very effective ban on him from participating in British states affairs till she died.
King Edward is one of those larger than life creatures than you will meet perhaps once in your lifetime, impossible to ignore, guaranteed to provoke one or two indignant uffs and puffs given his bluntness and, lets face it, occasional bad behavior regarding some of the people in his life.
However, if you choose to read about him with an open mind and no 20th century prejudices, he is fascinating, charming, clever, fiercely loyal and protective of those he loves...pretty sure most of us have met someone like this at least once, haven't we?

Give this one a try, other than at times wasting a little too many pages with names that can get confusing (darn aristocrats and naming and nicknaming everyone the same!), this is a very interesting read and an impeccably well researched book!

Happy Readings!

[Karin Slaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had always thought that Victoria's and Albert's was a great love story. I suppose that's what I get for sourcing all my history from Judi Dench and People magazine. I think I like Victoria more for this version, because she's a much more interesting and complicated person than the love-sick widow pining for her beau that has existed in popular lore (she is also vile and narcissistic, which may say more about me for liking her than about her for hating everybody else). I found it interesting as well to hear the nuts and bolts (at least then) of running a constitutional monarchy. Poor Bertie. Though he was a cad.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never given King Edward VII much attention before. He only ruled for 9 years and seems an afterthought, wedged between Queen Victoria's mammoth reign and his son King George V 26 year rule. When he does come up, it's generally prurient clickbait of the "See the obese king's special sex chair contraption!" or ridiculous Jack the Ripper speculation. The Afterword in this book is so fantastic it almost deserves a book in itself--how history and memory was rewritten (literally) after his death, courtiers frantically burning papers and letters, blackmailing former mistresses having their letters either stolen or strong-armed by detectives, and self-serving doctors, ministers, and leaders altering events to reflect better on them (by denigrating Edward's achievements) and to muscle his rather dull son into giving up power. With World War I happening so soon after his death and already in motion well in advance, it also didn't suit the country or history to dwell upon how much King Edward VII distrusted the Germans or that the war had been looming for at least a decade, because then it would appear that war was always intended instead of forced upon the people because they had to defend gallant Belgium. History is written by the victors or the living--and while in death he showed that he was one of the most popular monarchs in English history, with the crowds far exceeding his mother, he was also quickly diminished soon after by the widespread deaths in the war.

Another book that has deepened I think my understanding of the years of 1840s-1945 and some things are shocking in a way that they're not more discussed. The author does a very good job in showing Edward in totality--at many points he's an extremely likeable person that you could almost see yourself conversing with--like his mother he was not racist, he firmly believed he was a King of all his people and not just the white rich men (although he was vehemently against suffrage), and one part that ran through his whole life was his aversion to anti-Semitism. I do not agree with one historian (not the author) opinion that his friendship and support of English Jews was ultimately negative, because they integrated into society and lost their Jewish identity, whereas if they had been discriminated against that wouldn't have happened. I am sure the Rothschilds and Cassels and the many others that Bertie enjoyed hanging out with (and who helped save the monarchy by quietly fixing the finances behind the scenes) would have preferred to not be hounded and still considered that they had an identity. And I think it gives him credit that he wasn't just concerned about his country, but thought Eastern Europe pogroms were disgusting and tried to intervene at times with his Russian kin over it.

It makes one wonder if his pro-Semitic viewpoints played a part in the smearing of his name post death, since several of his scornful biographers had issues with that. (That Albert might have had a Jewish father is also an interesting speculation). This is a very nuanced book, and as the author points out, he matured and deepened to some degree as he got older--with his extremely complicated marriage, his relations with his mother, the death of his beloved sister Alice, the reconciliation between him and his brilliant older sister and her godawful death (holy shit at the horribleness of her long death--when you have to get your brother the King smuggle you in morphine personally because your evil son won't give you enough pain medication when you have breast/spine /bone cancer, and the screams were so bad the sentries asked to be moved a little further out of earshot), the death of his son, and just generally growing up--he was a very different person at the end of his life than the callow heartless womanizer of his youth (though he was always a horndog), which is true of all people I think, but spectacularly detailed in this book.

I liked how this author tackled the giant looming shadow of Queen Victoria--and think she's correct in that the only way Victoria was able to pull off her long widowy seclusion was having the feckless Bertie, whom she never trusted with any official business or dispatches (unknown to him that went to his youngest hemophiliac brother), cutting ribbons and making public appearances with his beautiful wife, Alix to keep the public at bay. I also liked her point that Victoria, while intensely private when it came to appearances, didn't have any issues really in showing herself to her people via photos and with her book her private life (and in her journals and letters, even with Princess Beatrice spending 30 years copying these--badly--and destroying the originals), while Bertie, happy to be seen in public, tried to keep his tumultuous and somewhat predatory private life under wraps. I think this could explain the great outpouring of grief at his death which subsided, when the author notes that even 70 years after her death, her people were routinely dreaming of her.

I recently read AN Wilson's big book on Victoria, and while I grumbled at all the detail about prime ministers I didn't really care about and wished that there was more about her children or family life and less about Gladstone condescending or Melbourne being a pervert to poor orphans, I was glad here that I was recently primed with that info. I still do not care for Gladstone--though maybe I should read a book on him to see if my opinion changes. Him playing the game, trying to turn son against mother, reiterated my earlier suspicion that his issue with Victoria was that she was a woman whom he couldn't really influence, and there is a lot about prime ministers in this one too. Mostly Balfour and Asquith, both whom come off as totally odious. (In all the Margot Asquith parts, Dorothy Parker's quip that "The affair between Margot Asquith and Margot Asquith will live as one of the prettiest love affairs in all literature" kept ringing in my brain.) I do not agree totally with the author's assertion that Victoria was an arch-reactionary--I think her politics are too complicated to really fall in one column or the other--she definitely leaned more conservative, but I think because conservative politicians like Disraeli and Palmerston were able to flatter and connect with her better as people.

I was shocked a bit that Victoria's view post rule was saying "apres moi le deluge"--believing that after her death, Bertie would mess everything up and feared that Kaiser would plunge the world into war and that the monarchy would not survive her. Bertie had basically the same view, predicting total war after his death--which of course happened. Both with these fatalistic views did nothing to prepare their successor--and I would have liked more about Bertie's relationship with George, since it seems he was even more woefully unprepared than him. Victoria and Albert had their punishing educational plan for their children (backfired, he almost never read)--but at least Bertie spoke multiple languages fluently and traveled widely. George spoke only English and preferred to live in a cramped house and devote himself to his stamp collection. Because Bertie never included George in duties, within 6 months of his death, the prime ministers responsible for soiling his reputation diminished the powers of monarchy.

It's also interesting really all his relationships with people in his life. Of course Victoria loomed large, but I didn't get that she was the monster of a mother some make out to be. In every scandal and low point in his life, she was always there 1000% on his side, so ironically again in his darkest moments their relationship always seemed to be at a highpoint, and when things were good personally for him, they had fallings out. Even though he wished to be King his whole life and have more influence, he was still crying at her bedside and she was crying at his when she thought he was dying of typhoid. And the Kaiser pushing his way into her deathbed, unwanted--she had no idea he was even there, she disliked him so much no one wanted to tell him and he was not invited--which puts a very different spin on her dying in her beloved grandchild's arms. Victoria's children all rose and fell in favor--sometimes Bertie was her favorite, other times it was Louise or Arthur or Leopold. Having so many kids meant she had a lot to play against one another. The book centers mostly on Bertie, Vicky and Alice. Arthur gets like 2 extremely brief mentions (mostly that he wore kilts but didn't know how to wear them and accidentally flashed people all the time), Louise barely which was surprising since she was the other rebel of the family, and Beatrice and Helene hardly at all. But it makes sense, since Alice is who he was closest to personally, and their little back and forths as kids, sneaking out to smoke are adorable.

His marriage to Alix I think belongs in the “What if” pantheon of history. If he hadn’t married her, maybe no world wars, which is a big load to put on an impoverished Danish princess’s shoulders, especially one as charismatic and sweet as her. Mostly when it comes to the Schleswig-Holstein Question of 1864, which as Palmerston said: “Only three people have ever really understood the Schleswig-Holstein business—the Prince Consort, who is dead [Albert]—a German professor, who has gone mad—and I, who have forgotten all about it." Really, soon as you hear “Schleswig-Holstein Question” your eyes start to glaze over and attention wander, but basically land grab by Prussia that screwed over Alix’s relations, which enraged her and Bertie out of loyalty to her and started the rift between Germany & Austria against the rest of Europe. In a way, it’s ironic. Prince Albert’s scheme of marrying off his & Victoria’s children to German royalty and taking the thrones of Europe only ensured that the World Wars would be family wars and most likely precipitated things (definitely in the case of Wilhelm, which the author suggests was a sociopath, completely lacking in empathy).

It was a love match on Alix’s side and even though Victoria wished hypothetically that Bertie had married someone else, she still loved Alix herself and seemed in this book to be even closer to her than some of her daughters (don’t get the one insinuation that his sister Vicky was in love with Alix herself) and Bertie could not have done better wife wise—if she hadn’t stuck with him he would have been a laughingstock. Her health broken by repeated pregnancies in such a short time—who vomits blood when giving birth?—doctors advised them that any future pregnancies would result in most likely her death and then he moved from cheating on her sometimes to flagrantly cheating all the time. Really, it’s shown again and again he couldn’t help himself, but it does seem like Bertie took things to cruel lengths (“She is my brood mare. The others are just my hacks.” attitude). And one wonders still, since he had an abortionist on call and seemed up to date on birth control, just what he was thinking. His endless affairs and mistresses are another reason history sort of looks the other way from Edward the Caresser. I did not get the author’s judgement of Alix for taking a cruise during his last months and she should have known somehow he was sick—well he chainsmoked massive cigars with emphysema and bronchitis, still had time to travel to holiday resorts himself in the company of his mistresses, and party during his illness—and she made it back in time after all. The other famous scene in his life, where wife and mistress tenderly weep over him while he was dying also was very different in real life than reported.

His latest mistress shows up announced bearing a letter dated 10 years earlier by him, that’s basically a hall pass to see him if he’s sick, then makes a horrible scene on his deathbed. “She was bundled out of the room, shrieking…She fell into a wild fit of hysterics and had to be carried out of the room…[he] recalled the Queen taking him aside and whispering, “Get this woman away.” So even a few hours from death, he managed to once again hurt his wife and family. Because of Alix, Bertie was close to the Russian royal family, since her sister was Czar Nicholas’s mother (why King George and the Czar looked almost identical) and the Czarina was his sister's Alice's daughter. Her influence through her sister, the two royal families spent each summer together in Denmark, where Alix told “stories about [the Kaiser’s] bad behavior towards his parents. The czar, who for all his autocratic politics was a devoted family man, was shocked, and Russian commitment to the German alliance was compromised.”

Churchill comes off very poorly—both Winston & his syphilitic father Randolph, while Jennie Churchill conducted a decades long affair with Bertie. It’s good that King Edward opposed Churchill at that point, since he rejected WC’s policy of naval affairs and went with a war-with-Germany-imminent plan and supported other ministers who participated in the navy arms race, ensuring that England was at least somewhat prepared for World War I. He also was like his mother in liking France, though took it a step further in preferring France over Germany, solidifying that relationship. I think the author does a very good job in the reevaluation of his reign and (pretty gigantic) beneficial impact his policies had to the 20th century. If he had taken it easy foodwise (the list of daily luncheons and dinners and snacks and the entire chicken he would take to bed with him to consume I guess between dreams was gross in the gluttony of it all), maybe not have spent so much time in drizzly cold shooting thousands of birds, also too fat to even fly, and laid off the cigars a bit, he might have lived longer. He might have countered his maniac nephew, he would have given the Romanovs asylum where his son refused, he definitely would not have ceded any of his powers like George did—so it’s another big what-if. But what ifs aside, the author has done a fantastic job lifting the veil on history that has been distorted.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Ridley feels that Edward VII has been minimized. She credits him with a major role in establishing the modern monarchy and strengthening Britain's relations with France and Russia. The latter she considers an invaluable service to the world, given the rise of militant Germany.

The story of Bertie's miserable childhood is told with a keen eye to the relationship of his parents. The attitudes are defined in A Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert, and the Death That Changed the British Monarchy but Ridley hangs them out in more forceful language: Albert thinks that Victoria's character had been "warped" and she must be taught "her chief purpose in life was reproduction" (p.20); "Albert was circling around her, petrified lest she scream - her rages upset him so." (p.40). One thing the two agreed on was a strict regimen for their eldest son. For more on Victoria's child rearing practices, Victoria's Daughters shows how her methods were cold and cruel. From Ridley's work you can see that the very worst was reserved for Bertie.

The largest part of this book is about Bertie's days of waiting, as a young, middle aged and seasoned man, to become king. It is like a reference book on Bertie's affairs. Ridley tells who and how and what is supported by fact and what remains elusive. There has to be more than the parties, the afternoon visits, the blackmail and the threats of blackmail, etc. In this period the Prince's travels began the alliances Ridley credits him with; there surely must be more to say about these trips. Bertie must have developed ties in the charity community (besides the wealthy hangers-on who bailed him out) worth noting. There has to be more to say about the decision to set his sons assail, the death of his first son, his relationship with second son and his role in the selection of May of Teck (twice) as daughter-in-law. These are a few starters.

The section on Bertie as King Edward, like his reign, was short. As a US reader, not well schooled on British governance, I was a little at sea over the tax issue. Appointing 300 new peers seems to be permanently extreme and unwieldy. This seems (stateside) a rather unconstitutional method to solve a constitutional problem. (Was it a joke?) The parts on travels and the unraveling relationship with his nephew Wilhelm II of German are very good. Through Victoria's advice to her daughter Vickie, Wilhelm was also a victim of Victoria's child rearing methods (see Victoria's Daughters). I'd have liked more on Bertie's opinion against women's suffrage and how he expressed this.

Given the giant purging of letters and files of Queen Victoria and her progeny this was a difficult life to document. Because of the scale of the research and its readable style, this book will stand as definitive for some time.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this highly readable biography, which says as much about Queen Victoria as about her son Bertie aka Edward VII. A highly sympathetic portrait of a man forced to spend most of his life not doing the job he was trained for, under the disapproving eye of, well, just about everyone. A massive doorstop of a book, but worth sticking with.

[C.S. Burrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most readable 'Bertie' biographies I've found.

Although the title suggests this may focus largely on his love life, this tasteful biography is something far from that. Even so, while he admired and deeply respected his publicly adored and stone-deaf queen consort, Alexandra, he did intimately liaise with over 50 other women, his most famous mistresses being actresses Lillie Langtry and Sarah Bernhardt, Lady Randolph Churchill mother of Winston Churchill and Alice ('Mrs') Keppel. These affairs are soundly documented by Jane Ridley, who never resorts to sensationalism.

Not an academically minded youth, he was prone to schoolroom tantrums, being such a fish out of water. His derisive, perpetually disappointed mother, Queen Victoria, wished he was more like his father, Prince Albert, for whom she famously mourned for much of her long reign. So determinedly did she keep Bertie out of her royal business that he had little but leisure to occupy himself with throughout his protracted princely years. He learnt statecraft from the wings, having it down pat by the time of his late succession.

It was a rapidly changing world over which Edward came to preside and he excelled in mediating between clashing expansionist powers, becoming nicknamed 'the Peacemaker'. Through his parents, his wife, his eight siblings' dynastic marriages and those of his six offspring, he was related to virtually every branch of European royalty.

His epoch is one which lingers in the collective living memory, with seniors still cherishing faded family pictures along with anecdotes verbally passed down through parents from grandparents and great grandparents - this was Queen Elizabeth II's great grandfather. His demise marked the end of an era though. Society would change abruptly, dramatically and irreversibly as WWI loomed.

A fine biography on an interesting king who got to the throne late in life yet whose decade there remains a distinct one.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent history. Though I don't admire Queen Victoria as much as I did before.

[Susan in NC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed, impeccably researched, but reads like a guilty pleasure...

I have truly hit the jackpot twice with recent Amazon Vine selections - first Margaret MacMillan's amazing "War That Ended Peace", and now Jane Ridley's "Heir Apparent". Considering the time frames covered (Victorian England vs. years immediately preceding WWI) perhaps I should've read this book first! As much as I enjoyed MacMillan's well-written, exhaustively researched look at Europe's march to war (King Edward and his gift for dynastic diplomacy was covered there as well), I have to agree with all of the effusive reviews for this biography of King Edward. It was obviously extensively researched as well, but Ripley's witty, dry, almost breezy style made this read like a gossipy, very human, guilty pleasure - "Keeping up with the Waleses" if you like! I have read biographies on Victoria but Ripley's access to Edward's papers in the royal archives at Windsor allowed her to bring the reader an unprecedented, unvarnished look into the private relationships between "Bertie" and his parents and immediate family, and later with his courtiers, government officials and the MANY women in his life.

The author's exhaustive research (five years of work) started as a short bio of the Playboy Prince (derided as "Edward the Caresser" by some) looking at his relationships with the women in his life, but turned into this in-depth study of a truly conflicted character. I felt so sorry for young Bertie with his suffocating, exacting parents Victoria and Albert; isolated from boys his own age, working all day, every day with tutors, never having any fun - such a spartan existence may have been common for royal princes of the day, but it makes for grim reading. It also goes a long way to explaining Bertie's appalling lack of judgment and self-control once he was free of his father's clutches; literally like a kid in a candy store, with no outlet or challenge to focus on, he binged on expensive, sybaritic pleasures like fine food, fast horses, faster women, high-stakes gambling and LOTS of shooting (ugh, I've read a lot of Victorian history but that particular pastime and the obscene waste never fails to turn my stomach). Victoria blamed Bertie for Albert's death, which gave her yet another reason to keep him away from all royal responsibilities. Given the limited choices available to Bertie, he made what he could of his life, picking up royal duties and appearances like leavings from the Queen's plate as she sunk deeper into the isolation of prolonged mourning.

One can't help but wonder what if - what if Albert and Victoria had given him healthy guidance as a young prince? What if Albert hadn't died, and he and Victoria molded the young heir apparent into a true king-in-waiting, with assigned duties and gradual involvement in royal responsibilities? What if Victoria had willingly allowed her son to be a real help in her long and lonely widowhood, taking on more real responsibilities in preparation for the inevitable, but also allowing her the privacy and time alone she desired? What if Bertie was sooner and more widely able to practice the dynastic diplomacy at which he excelled? Bertie died in 1911, but with a healthier lifestyle and a more purposeful life, might he have been able to influence the Kaiser and help the other powers pull back from the brink of war yet again? We'll never know, as none of those happened - Bertie was always a disappointment to his parents, who were locked in a marital power struggle of their own, with the children caught in the middle of the dysfunction like so much collateral damage. It was frustrating to read about Bertie's seedy and sordid affairs and scandals (particularly those involving Harriet Mordaunt and Susan Vane-Tempest) and the very real pain he caused his wife Alix, but Ridley paints a very honest, balanced and human portrait of the man, shedding light on his character, warts and all. Wonderfully written, exhaustively researched, highly recommended!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was given the queen's special permission to access royal archives at Windsor, and during extremely thorough research discovered previously unknown documents. Although based on years of research, this is no dusty biography. It is a lively and compelling portrait of Edward VII and his age, that reads almost like a novel. "Bertie" as Ridley refers to him, and his many companions, leap off the page, living life with gusto.

Despite their apparently blameless lives Victoria and Albert emerge as unsympathetic and even heartless characters, especially in their treatment of their eldest son. Bertie, on the other hand, for all his many shortcomings and character flaws eventually wins the respect and affection of the British people, and of the reader. After a dismal and lonely upbringing, and in the absence of any royal duties delegated by his mother, he enjoyed the company of beautiful women and male bon vivants in an almost endless series of weekend house parties.

Behind the intimate portraits, great events are shaping the nation and the world. The relationship between the throne, the government and the people changes over the years. Gladstone, Disraeli, Palmerston, Lloyd George and Churchill appear, but from the perspective of the royals. As an extreme example, Bertie loathed Winston Churchill, and was heard to comment that his initials seemed singularly appropriate...

Thankfully there are extensive family trees and photographs to keep track of the multitudes of Victoria's descendants and family members and their dynastic marriages across Europe. Bertie traveled extensively, and from Denmark to Spain was "uncle" to most of Europe's crowned heads, displaying considerable diplomatic skills in negotiating with even the psychopathic Kaiser Wilhelm, with whom he shared a love of elaborate uniforms.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a scholarly and sympathetic biography of a man who, against the odds, was a good king. After a harsh childhood with no fun or friends, Bertie went wild, indulging all of his prodigious appetites. Rejecting the academic learning that had made his childhood miserable, he had a sense of what was right that kicked in when he was performing public duties. As Prince of Wales he visited India and, eschewing the customary rudeness to the Indian grandees, gave them their place and his visit was a success. He empathised with the poor and believed in taxing the rich. He was an effective symbol of Britain abroad, and won over the French people (largely because of his flagrant infidelity to Queen Alexandra). He did his best to keep the peace in Europe, but with the kaiser mad, bad and stupid and the tsar silly and weak, Uncle Bertie died before the world slid into the First World War.
Although the author gives her subject the benefit of pretty well any doubt going, this is not a hagiography, but a serious and fascinating re-appraisal of a surprisingly good king.

[May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-researched, well-written, and an easy read despite its intimidating length. Doesn't shy away from complicated portrayals and truths about Bertie, but the best thing it does it how it deconstructs the dominant myths and narratives that surround him and the people around him, which I always appreciate. Ridley does this best with his mistresses, pointing out when events probably didn't happen (she uses "apocryphal" a lot) and why a particular portrayal took off instead. It's a testament to her closing statement ("Destroying the historical record does not prevent the history being written." (p. 495)) that Ridley works sometimes from nothing to reconstruct something and her years of archival work have certainly paid off.

[Nancy Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this biography 4 stars simply because of the amount of work and time the author obviously put into it. 606 pages of biography plus 90 more pages of footnotes THEN index. It is daunting. I started into the book with the life of Edward's mother, Queen Victoria, on my mind (thanks to Masterpiece Theater!). The first 400 or so pages concentrate on Bertie's (nickname for Edward) relationship as a young man and aging prince with his mother. It was not a good one. The "playboy prince" mentioned in the title certainly liked women. The details of his numerous affairs - who, when, where, how often, reactions of others - are included. He was a serial adulterer. Then there was the hunting - I really didn't care about the number or grouse he shot on certain dates while hunting with Lord X or Y or Z but there it was. On and on and on. About 2/3 into the book, Victoria died and Edward became king. He seemed to have finally grown up, Europe was moving toward WWI, and Edward, being uncle or cousin to almost every ruler in Europe, had control over the trajectory of the upcoming conflict. But I was so worn out with the details of his early gad-about years that I found myself skimming over what was probably the most interesting and important part of the book. So, here is my recommendation - IF the royals interest you and European history is your thing, read the book! BUT, don't try to read from start to finish as you would a novel. Read it in 2 or 3 chunks. Take a break and read something else. Then return to Edward's shenanigans for a while. Ms. Ridley did an amazing job researching and organizing the material. She had an interesting cast of characters to work with (although I'm not sure I liked any of them.)

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Goodreads  "King Edward the VII, affectionately called Bertie, was fifty-nine when he took the throne in 1901, upon the death of his mother Queen Victoria. To everyone's great surprise, this playboy prince sobered up and became an extremely effective leader and the founder of England's modern monarchy."

Very well researched and written as narrative non-fiction, Ridley's biography The Heir Apparent is excellent in that it brought to light new information about King Edward VII.  Personally, I found the first third and last third the most interesting - as the mid-section was mostly Bertie's playboy escapades.  After the first few affairs, I didn't need details of the remainder.  But for historical purposes, I can't fault Ridley for being thorough.