The Cosmopolitan King: Edward VII

Following his lecture tours in the United States in 1900, Winston Churchill continued his speaking engagements in Canada. During his last lectures in Winnipeg, Churchill learned of the death of Queen Victoria, which had occurred on Tuesday, 22 January 1901. He knew that Victoria’s son Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales, ascended the throne and chose to reign under the name Edward VII.

On learning of the Queen’s passing, Churchill wrote his mother: “I contemplated sending a letter of condolence and congratulations mixed, but I am uncertain how to address it and also whether such procedure would be etiquette. You must tell me. I am most interested and feel rather vulgar about the matter. I should like to know an Emperor and a King. Edward the VIIth—gadzooks what a long way that seems to take one back! I am glad he has got his innings at last, and am most interested to watch how he plays it.”¹ Churchill’s remarks to his mother referred to two matters regarding the new King.

The first related to events in 1876 when Winston was only a year old. His father, Lord Randolph, had had a quarrel with the Prince of Wales that led to the exile of the Churchills to Dublin for three years. The dispute involved Randolph’s brother, the Marquess of Blandford, who had had an affair with the Countess of Aylesford. The Prince of Wales condemned Blandford as “the greatest blackguard/ rabble alive.” Randolph tried to defend his brother by attempting to blackmail the Prince of Wales, threatening to reveal