Portrait of King Edward VII
by Luke Fildes
by Luke Fildes
Edward VII, while Prince of Wales and, later, King, had at least 55 mistresses/liaisons during his married life (not counting his frequent visits to upscale Parisian brothels). One of them, and the most influential, Alice Keppel was married with one daughter when she became the Prince's long-term mistress in 1898. Alice never separated from her husband, George Keppel, however, with whom she was happily married. Mr. Keppel once said of her: "I do not mind what she does as long as she comes back to me in the end." (It did not hurt that Mr. Keppel was rewarded with high-paid positions.) Alice remained one of the Prince's (later, King's) mistresses beyond his accession in 1901, until his death in 1910. The King was 26 years older than Alice.
Alice Keppel, Photogravure
by Ellis Roberts
by Ellis Roberts
Conclusion: I believe Sonia was likely the daughter of Edward VII and that Camilla should have a DNA test to prove it. If so, Camilla would be the great-granddaughter of Edward VII.
Edward VII was the son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were first-cousins. While Prince of Wales, King Edward VII married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863. He was 21, and she was 18. Their first son, Albert, died of pneumonia at the age of 28, leaving their second son, George, next in line to the throne after Edward. In 1893, George married his second-cousin-once-removed, Mary of Teck, who had been Albert's fiance at the time of Albert's death. (I know. Wierd. But not as wierd as Henry VIII's first marriage to his late elder brother's widowed wife.)
George became the irascible George V. George V's eldest sons were Edward and George Jr. Edward eventually became Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson of questionable reputation. George Jr. subsequently became George VI, portrayed in "The King's Speech". At the time of George VI's coronation, he already had two daughters. The eldest became Elizabeth II, the current Queen. Queen Elizabeth married Phillip, now the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947. Their son, Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948, one year and almost four months after Camilla Shand's birth. Charles was created Prince of Wales in 1958.
Conclusion: Prince Charles is the great-great-grandson of Edward VII. If all of the above is correct, that would make: Sonia Keppel and George V half-siblings; Rosalind Cubitt and George VI half-first cousins; Camilla Shand and Elizabeth II half-second cousins; and Camilla Shand and Charles half-second-cousins-once-removed.
Wild Oats
Although not nearly the womanizer Edward VII was, Prince Charles did have a series of relationships before he married. Wikipedia.org states: "In his youth, Charles was linked to a number of women. His great-uncle Lord Mountbatten advised him: 'In a case like yours, the man should sow his wild oats and have as many affairs as he can before settling down. But for a wife he should choose a suitable, attractive, and sweet-charactered girl before she has met anyone else she might fall for ... It is disturbing for women to have experiences if they have to remain on a pedestal after marriage.'" Charming.
Young Prince Charles
In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, who was 13 years his junior, fulfilling his family's expectations and following Lord Mountbatten's advice. Charles's affair with Camilla began at least by 1986, although likely before. It is unclear exactly when the relationship became more than a "friendship." Charles and Diana separated in 1992. Camilla and Andrew divorced in 1995. Charles and Diana divorced in 1996. Diana died in 1997.
Young Camilla Shand
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales is
seated to the left of Queen Victoria.
seated to the left of Queen Victoria.
Edward VII (then Albert Edward or "Bertie") was created Prince of Wales a month after his birth in 1841. He held the title until his accession in 1901, after the death of his mother, who was 81. Queen Victoria may have lived as long as she did, primarily to postpone her son's accession as long as possible. She had always found his morals to be questionable, to say the least. Although they reformed the moral reputation of the British monarchy, as well as the moral standards of an entire nation, Victoria and Albert failed to inculcate the same values in their son, much to their chagrin. Their disappointment in Bertie's moral standards can be traced back to his first known (premarital) liaison with actress Nellie Clifden in Ireland in November of 1861, which was regrettably made public.
Victoria even blamed Bertie for the subsequent death of his father, Prince Albert, shortly thereafter in December of 1861. Prince Albert, though ill, had recently visited Bertie at Cambridge to reprimand him. After Albert's death, Victoria wrote in German to her eldest daughter,"That boy ... I never can, or ever shall look at him without a shudder". Victoria said Albert had been "killed by that dreadful business," believing the disgust and stress resulting from Bertie's behavior had weakened Albert, prior to Albert contracting the fatal typhoid fever. Bertie's life-long sexual promiscuity and gambling, with a few consequent public legal scandals thrown in, did nothing to alleviate Victoria's disgust.
This is not to say that Queen Victoria ever wished her son dead. In fact, in 1871, when the Prince of Wales contracted the same illness from which his father died, Victoria was distressed and fearful that her son would die. After his recovery, Queen Victoria and Prince Edward celebrated with a public parade and a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral. However, the Queen dreaded Bertie's accession, speaking of this eventuality as "too awful" to contemplate, and did not ever adequately prepare him for his future role as King. Not until Bertie was a grandfather himself did Victoria even allow him access to cabinet papers.
In 1896, Victoria surpassed George III to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She went on to reign for a total of 63 years, seven months and two days. As a result of Victoria's longevity, Edward held the title of Prince of Wales longer than any other previous Prince of Wales (59 years, one month, two weeks and three days).
More Maternal Disapproval
Charles' formal investiture as
Prince of Wales took place in 1969.
Prince of Wales took place in 1969.
Charles was born on November 14, 1948, while his mother was still a Princess and Duchess of Edinburgh. Elizabeth became Queen on February 6, 1952, when Charles, the new heir apparent, was three years old. At the time of Queen Elizabeth's accession, the former Prince of Wales and King Edward VIII of England, now styled the Duke of Windsor, was still living. However, he had renounced both of the former titles. However, Prince Charles was not created Prince of Wales until July 26, 1958, over six years after becoming eligible for the title. Since the title does not come with any required attendant responsibilities, the reason for the delay is unclear.
As Queen, Elizabeth II has had to endure more aggressively intrusive and widespread media attention than any former monarch, even Queen Victoria. For example, she called 1992, her 40th year as Queen, her annus horribilis. Her second son and his wife separated in March of that year; her daughter and her husband divorced in April; in November, Windsor castle suffered severe fire damage; two days later, the Queen was required to pay income tax for the first time; and in December, Prince Charles and Princess Diana formally separated. As a result of Prince Charles's separation, 1996 divorce, and his affair with Camilla becoming public, the monarchy had to endure even more media scrutiny. Although Prince Charles was not responsible for the abuses of the paparazzi, his personal decisions could not have made Queen Elizabeth's life any easier.
This scrutiny reached a fever pitch upon the death of the publicly beloved Diana in a car accident in 1997. While the media had been primarily focused on the Queen's wider family, rather than her own behavior, the Queen endured scathing criticism for her neglect to fly the flag over Buckingham Palace at half-mast after the death of Diana, her silence on the death of her former daughter-in-law, and her seclusion with her grandsons at Balmoral during the days following the car accident. On September 5, 1997, the day before Diana's funeral, the Queen finally delivered a public broadcast, a rare expression of her private emotions, in which she expressed admiration for Diana, as well as care for her now motherless grandsons. This did much to dispel public hostility. The media again pounced on Prince Charles's marriage to Camilla in 2008, but has since remained comparatively at bay, other than the occasional tabloid article about Camilla's outspoken tendencies.
As of today, Prince Charles has held the title of Prince of Wales for 56 years, five month, two weeks and one day. Although he is the longest holder of the position of heir apparent, as well as the oldest person in this position since 1714, he has not yet broken Edward VII's record for longest holder of the title Prince of Wales. Queen Victoria died at the age of 81. Queen Elizabeth is nearing her 89th birthday and still going strong. Perhaps she has the same dread of passing the torch that Queen Victoria expressed.
Conclusion: It would seem likely that there is a gene called the "long-term mistress of a long-term, media-hounded Prince of Wales in an arranged marriage, with a longevous mother obsessed with moral reputation" gene, which may have been passed down from Alice Keppel to Camilla Shand.
Abdication Shmabdication
I was once asked at a party whether I think Charles will refuse the throne upon the death of his mother, as Edward VIII (called "David") abdicated the throne, not long after the death of his father. I assumed the question arose, due to Charles's 2008 marriage to the unpopular Camilla, similar to Edward VIII's decision to marry the unpopular Wallis Simpson. Although Charles may well predecease his redoubtable mother, I do not believe he would abdicate the throne.
Camilla may be more palatable to the royal family, court, and British public as a wife-of-the-monarch than Wallis Simpson was to their 1936 counterparts. Unlike Edward VIII's post-abdication wife, Wallis Simpson, Camilla a) is British; b) is of a high social class; c) does not wish to chop down entire avenues of centuries-old trees on royal property; d) is not currently sleeping with a mechanic; e) is not a total and complete alcoholic; f) is only once-divorced, not twice; and g) does not have strong Nazi connections on the brink of a World War. Had he not abdicated, Edward VIII's marriage to Wallis Simpson would likely have had consequences for the succession. There is virtually no chance that Charles's current marriage will impact the succession.
Charles has a positive reputation in his position as Prince of Wales, being hailed as the "hardest-working member of the royal family" by the Daily Telegraph in 2008. According to Wikipedia.org, Charles carried out over 600 official engagements in 2011 alone. The royal family has been, slowly but surely, publicly accepting Camilla, as well as supporting the rehabilitation of her reputation after her long-term vilification in the press. (Please see Camilla's Wikipedia.org page, heading: Image rehabilitation.) Camilla was careful not to anger the British people more than she already had ... when she willingly accepting only the lesser title of Duchess of Cornwall upon her marriage to Charles, rather than Princess of Wales, a title to which she was legally entitled ... out of respect for Diana's memory. One has to admit, that was wise.
Prince Charles is the first member of the Royal Family to have had a civil, rather than religious, wedding in England. Although Charles married Camilla with the permission of the monarch (per the Royal Marriages Act of 1772), Charles's parents did not attend the ceremony. Many believe the Queen refrained from attending, due to her position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, much as George VI refrained from attending "David's" post-abdication wedding. One of the government's objections to Edward VIII's marriage to Wallis Simpson was her previously divorced status. The government objected to the marriage of the King, in his (then current) position as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England with a woman who did not have an unimpeachable moral history. Although history is repetitive, it is not necessarily consistent. The government did not prevent Edward VIII from becoming Supreme Governor, despite his long-term affair with Wallis Simpson. The government of 1901 did not object to Edward VII becoming Supreme Governor, despite an obvious case of what can only be called hypersexuality. Is this hypocricy on the part of these governments, or sexism ... or both?
Although Charles and Camilla are both previously divorced, after their civil ceremony, their marriage was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, a blessing the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh did attend. The British people may accept Charles's marriage, as well as his position, due to this blessing, once he is Supreme Governor. They may also place less of an emphasis on Charles' future role as head of the Church of England than the people of 1936. Besides, let's face it, that whole denomination started with a scandalous affair and divorce. (Again, see Henry VIII's first marriage.)
As Queen, Elizabeth II has had to endure more aggressively intrusive and widespread media attention than any former monarch, even Queen Victoria. For example, she called 1992, her 40th year as Queen, her annus horribilis. Her second son and his wife separated in March of that year; her daughter and her husband divorced in April; in November, Windsor castle suffered severe fire damage; two days later, the Queen was required to pay income tax for the first time; and in December, Prince Charles and Princess Diana formally separated. As a result of Prince Charles's separation, 1996 divorce, and his affair with Camilla becoming public, the monarchy had to endure even more media scrutiny. Although Prince Charles was not responsible for the abuses of the paparazzi, his personal decisions could not have made Queen Elizabeth's life any easier.
This scrutiny reached a fever pitch upon the death of the publicly beloved Diana in a car accident in 1997. While the media had been primarily focused on the Queen's wider family, rather than her own behavior, the Queen endured scathing criticism for her neglect to fly the flag over Buckingham Palace at half-mast after the death of Diana, her silence on the death of her former daughter-in-law, and her seclusion with her grandsons at Balmoral during the days following the car accident. On September 5, 1997, the day before Diana's funeral, the Queen finally delivered a public broadcast, a rare expression of her private emotions, in which she expressed admiration for Diana, as well as care for her now motherless grandsons. This did much to dispel public hostility. The media again pounced on Prince Charles's marriage to Camilla in 2008, but has since remained comparatively at bay, other than the occasional tabloid article about Camilla's outspoken tendencies.
As of today, Prince Charles has held the title of Prince of Wales for 56 years, five month, two weeks and one day. Although he is the longest holder of the position of heir apparent, as well as the oldest person in this position since 1714, he has not yet broken Edward VII's record for longest holder of the title Prince of Wales. Queen Victoria died at the age of 81. Queen Elizabeth is nearing her 89th birthday and still going strong. Perhaps she has the same dread of passing the torch that Queen Victoria expressed.
Conclusion: It would seem likely that there is a gene called the "long-term mistress of a long-term, media-hounded Prince of Wales in an arranged marriage, with a longevous mother obsessed with moral reputation" gene, which may have been passed down from Alice Keppel to Camilla Shand.
Abdication Shmabdication
I was once asked at a party whether I think Charles will refuse the throne upon the death of his mother, as Edward VIII (called "David") abdicated the throne, not long after the death of his father. I assumed the question arose, due to Charles's 2008 marriage to the unpopular Camilla, similar to Edward VIII's decision to marry the unpopular Wallis Simpson. Although Charles may well predecease his redoubtable mother, I do not believe he would abdicate the throne.
Camilla may be more palatable to the royal family, court, and British public as a wife-of-the-monarch than Wallis Simpson was to their 1936 counterparts. Unlike Edward VIII's post-abdication wife, Wallis Simpson, Camilla a) is British; b) is of a high social class; c) does not wish to chop down entire avenues of centuries-old trees on royal property; d) is not currently sleeping with a mechanic; e) is not a total and complete alcoholic; f) is only once-divorced, not twice; and g) does not have strong Nazi connections on the brink of a World War. Had he not abdicated, Edward VIII's marriage to Wallis Simpson would likely have had consequences for the succession. There is virtually no chance that Charles's current marriage will impact the succession.
Charles has a positive reputation in his position as Prince of Wales, being hailed as the "hardest-working member of the royal family" by the Daily Telegraph in 2008. According to Wikipedia.org, Charles carried out over 600 official engagements in 2011 alone. The royal family has been, slowly but surely, publicly accepting Camilla, as well as supporting the rehabilitation of her reputation after her long-term vilification in the press. (Please see Camilla's Wikipedia.org page, heading: Image rehabilitation.) Camilla was careful not to anger the British people more than she already had ... when she willingly accepting only the lesser title of Duchess of Cornwall upon her marriage to Charles, rather than Princess of Wales, a title to which she was legally entitled ... out of respect for Diana's memory. One has to admit, that was wise.
Prince Charles is the first member of the Royal Family to have had a civil, rather than religious, wedding in England. Although Charles married Camilla with the permission of the monarch (per the Royal Marriages Act of 1772), Charles's parents did not attend the ceremony. Many believe the Queen refrained from attending, due to her position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, much as George VI refrained from attending "David's" post-abdication wedding. One of the government's objections to Edward VIII's marriage to Wallis Simpson was her previously divorced status. The government objected to the marriage of the King, in his (then current) position as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England with a woman who did not have an unimpeachable moral history. Although history is repetitive, it is not necessarily consistent. The government did not prevent Edward VIII from becoming Supreme Governor, despite his long-term affair with Wallis Simpson. The government of 1901 did not object to Edward VII becoming Supreme Governor, despite an obvious case of what can only be called hypersexuality. Is this hypocricy on the part of these governments, or sexism ... or both?
Although Charles and Camilla are both previously divorced, after their civil ceremony, their marriage was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, a blessing the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh did attend. The British people may accept Charles's marriage, as well as his position, due to this blessing, once he is Supreme Governor. They may also place less of an emphasis on Charles' future role as head of the Church of England than the people of 1936. Besides, let's face it, that whole denomination started with a scandalous affair and divorce. (Again, see Henry VIII's first marriage.)
