Edward VII Timeline

In 1860, Edward undertook the first tour of North America by a Prince of Wales. The visit proved a popular success; prayers for the royal family were said in Trinity Church, New York, for the first time since 1776.

Image source: Edward VII

Edward annoyed his mother by siding with Denmark on the Schleswig-Holstein Question in 1864 and in the same year annoyed her again by making a special effort to meet Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian general and revolutionary.

Image source: Schleswig–Holstein question

In 1869, Sir Charles Mordaunt threatened to name Edward as co-respondent in his divorce suit. Ultimately he did not do so, but Edward was called as a witness in the case in early 1870.

Image source: Harriet Mordaunt

In 1870 republican sentiment in Britain was given a boost when Napoleon III was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War and the French Third Republic was declared.

Image source: Republicanism in the United Kingdom

Edward pioneered royal public appearances as they are understood today, including opening the Thames Embankment in 1871, though his mother did not allow him an active role in running the country until 1898.

Image source: Thames Embankment

During the winter of 1871, a near-fatal bout of typhoid fever led to an improvement in both Edward's popularity with the public and his relationship with his mother.

On 26 September 1875, Edward set off for India on an extensive eight-month tour, visiting Malta, Brindisi and Greece en route. He returned to England on 11 May 1876 after stopping off at Portugal. The tour proved a popular success.

In 1883, Edward opened the Royal College of Music with the words, "Class can no longer stand apart from class..." reflecting his belief in broadening access.

Image source: Royal College of Music

Edward continued his pioneering public appearances, opening the Mersey Railway Tunnel in 1886. From that same year, Foreign Secretary Lord Rosebery sent him Foreign Office despatches.

Image source: Mersey Tunnels

In 1891 Edward was embroiled in the royal baccarat scandal, when it was revealed he had played an illegal card game for money the previous year.

Image source: Royal baccarat scandal

From 1892, some Cabinet papers were opened to Edward, gradually giving him more insight into government affairs during his mother's widowhood.

Edward opened Tower Bridge in 1894 as part of his pioneering role in royal public appearances, though he still lacked an active political role until 1898.

Image source: Tower Bridge

In 1896, Edward's horse Persimmon won both the Derby and the St Leger, delighting the horse-racing prince.

Image source: Persimmon (horse)

In 1900, Persimmon's brother, Diamond Jubilee, won five races, including the Triple Crown of Derby, St Leger and 2000 Guineas, plus the Newmarket Stakes and Eclipse Stakes.

Image source: Diamond Jubilee (horse)

On his way to Denmark through Belgium on 4 April 1900, Edward was the victim of an attempted assassination when 15-year-old Jean-Baptiste Sipido shot at him in protest over the Second Boer War.

Image source: Jean-Baptiste Sipido

In September 1861, Edward was sent to Germany to watch military manoeuvres but actually to meet Princess Alexandra of Denmark. They met at Speyer on 24 September under the auspices of his elder sister Victoria, Crown Princess of Prussia.

Image source: Alexandra of Denmark

As soon as Edward returned to Britain, preparations were made for his engagement, which was sealed at Laeken in Belgium on 9 September 1862.

Edward married Alexandra at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 10 March 1863. The couple had six children.

Image source: Wedding of Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra

When Alexandra's father, King Christian IX, inherited the throne of Denmark in November 1863, the German Confederation took the opportunity to invade and annex Schleswig-Holstein.

Image source: Christian IX of Denmark

In 1871, Edward's youngest son, Alexander John, died just 24 hours after being born.

Image source: Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany

In late 1891, Edward's eldest son, Albert Victor, was engaged to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck. Just weeks later, in early 1892, Albert Victor died of pneumonia.

Image source: Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale

When Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901, Edward became King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India and, in an innovation, King of the British Dominions.

In 1902, the Shah of Persia, Mozzafar-al-Din, visited England expecting to receive the Order of the Garter, creating diplomatic awkwardness over honours protocol.

Image source: Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar

Edward's coronation had originally been scheduled for 26 June 1902 but was postponed when he required emergency abdominal surgery days beforehand.

Image source: Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra

Edward was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 9 August 1902 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Frederick Temple.

One of Edward's most important foreign trips was an official visit to France in May 1903 as the guest of President Émile Loubet, laying the groundwork for improved Anglo-French relations.

Image source: Entente Cordiale

The Entente was negotiated in 1904 between French foreign minister Théophile Delcassé and British foreign secretary Lord Lansdowne. It marked the end of centuries of Anglo-French rivalry and Britain's splendid isolation from Continental affairs.

In 1904, Wilhelm II and Edward met during an Anglo-German summit in Kiel, amid shifting European alliances.

Image source: Wilhelm II

In April 1908, during Edward's annual stay at Biarritz, he accepted the resignation of British Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, appointing H.H. Asquith in his place.

Image source: Henry Campbell-Bannerman

In June 1908, Edward became the first reigning British monarch to visit the Russian Empire, meeting Tsar Nicholas II at Reval, despite having refused to visit in 1906 amid strained relations.

After the King's horse Minoru won the Derby on 26 July 1909, Edward returned to the racetrack the following day and laughed when a man shouted: "Now, King."

Image source: Minoru (horse)

Admiral Beresford's campaign against Fisher split the navy, and Fisher announced his resignation in late 1909, although the bulk of his policies were retained.

Image source: John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher

The Finance Bill passed the Commons on 5 November 1909 but was rejected by the Lords on 30 November, who claimed they were entitled to oppose it as it lacked an electoral mandate, triggering a constitutional crisis.

Image source: People's Budget

Talk of removing the Lords' veto played a major role in the January 1910 election, fought against the backdrop of the constitutional crisis.

Image source: January 1910 United Kingdom general election

The King persuaded Sir Arthur Wilson to return to active duty, and Wilson became First Sea Lord on 25 January 1910, resolving the Fisher-Beresford feud's aftermath.

Image source: Sir Arthur Wilson, 3rd Baronet

On 14 April, the Commons passed resolutions that would form the basis for the Parliament Act 1911: removing the Lords' veto over money bills, replacing their veto of other bills with a delaying power, and reducing Parliament's term to five years.

Image source: Parliament Act 1911

In 1907, a rodent ulcer, a type of cancer affecting the skin next to his nose, was cured with radium, one of the earliest uses of radiotherapy.

Edward suffered a momentary loss of consciousness during a state visit to Berlin in February 1909, an early sign of declining health.

In March 1910, Edward collapsed while staying at Biarritz, suffering from severe bronchitis, and his health rapidly declined thereafter.

Edward died on 6 May 1910 at Buckingham Palace, aged 68, in the midst of the constitutional crisis over the House of Lords' veto. His son George V succeeded him.

Image source: Death and state funeral of Edward VII

His funeral, held on 20 May 1910, marked "the greatest assemblage of royalty and rank ever gathered in one place and, of its kind, the last", according to Barbara Tuchman in The Guns of August.

The constitutional crisis that began under Edward was resolved by the Parliament Act 1911, passed after his death, which restricted the power of the unelected House of Lords.

Publication of the official biography of Edward was delayed until 1927 by its author, Sidney Lee, who feared German propagandists would portray Edward as an anti-German warmonger.

Image source: Sidney Lee