9 November 1841

King Edward belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg Gotha

Length of reign:

Nine years and four months between January 1901 and May 1910

Edward married Alexandra, daughter of the king of Denmark on 10 March 1863 at Windsor Castle. The couple had six children. Their second child, Prince George, became King George V. Prince George and his father were very close. Edward wrote in 1894, 'we are more like brothers than father and son.'

Edward spent most of his life waiting to be king. From the moment of his birth in 1841, his place in British society was as heir apparent to the throne. He had to wait nearly sixty years before taking up his role. As such, he did not have much time to make an impression as king. Despite this, it appears that Edward was remembered fondly. 'The Edwardian age' refers to his reign and after the long reign of his mother, it was a time of some change and excitement.

As heir to the throne, Edward undertook several notable engagements. He opened the Thames Embankment in 1871, the Mersey Tunnel in 1886 and Tower Bridge in 1894. He was a member of the Royal Commission on Housing, established in 1884, President of the Royal Society of Arts and was instrumental in the founding of the Royal College of Music.

As king, Edward became known as the 'Uncle of Europe', such were his regular visits to a number of European monarchs in an effort to foster good relations and co-operation. It was through such efforts that the Entente Cordiale was signed between Britain and France in 1904. 

King Edward founded the Order of Merit in 1902 to recognise exceptional distinction in the arts, science and literature as well as in military and naval affairs.
 

Edward's low points stem largely from the fact that his life was spent waiting to be king. Queen Victoria was reluctant to involve her eldest son in any of the business of monarchy with the result that his time was left unoccupied. It was not until 1885 that he received reports of Cabinet discussions and not until 1898 that he was able to act as the Queen's legally appointed deputy.

He was heavily involved in 'society life' at this time and acquired something of a reputation with women. He appeared in court as a witness in a divorce case and to testify in a case of slander that had resulted from an illegal card game. He disagreed with his mother over the Prussian dispute with Denmark. The Queen sided with the Prussians; Edward supported Denmark, the country of his wife.

Prince John, the last of Edward and Alexandra's children, died after 24 hours in 1871.

Edward is one of the oldest people to come to the throne in the whole of British history at the age of 59 years and 2 months. He is the oldest Prince of Wales ever to have become king. Prince Charles has been heir to the throne for 52 years since Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952.