The Marriage of King Edward VII of Great Britain
The Royal Union with Princess Alexandra of Denmark
Oct 1, 2009
The marriage of King Edward VII and Princess Alexandra of Denmark was arranged by the groom’s parents in order to settle him down, but the princess’s sweetness and beauty quickly won over her husband and the British people. King Edward VII (1841–1910), known as “Bertie,” and Princess Alexandra (1844–1925) had a relatively happy marriage, although marred by his infidelity and general family problems, in particular a strained relationship with his disapproving mother Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria Finds a Wife for the Prince of Wales
Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert were desperate to find a wife for their eldest son Bertie, the Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII. The heir to the throne was irresponsible and philandering, and his parents hoped that a marriage might settle him down. But finding Bertie a wife wasn’t easy, as he wasn’t really interested in marriage and thought all the proposed princesses ugly.
So Queen Victoria turned her dynastic eye to Denmark, where the future King Christian IX of Denmark had several beautiful daughters. Denmark was politically controversial, as it fought with Germany over the administration of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, where King Christian IX was from. Queen Victoria and Great Britain tended to be pro-German in these matters, so if Princess Alexandra married the heir to the British throne she would have to put Denmark behind her.
The Engagement and Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark
Although Bertie was not interested in marriage, Princess Alexandra was one of the prettiest princesses in Europe, and when they met the Prince of Wales decided that he liked her. But Bertie was still not ready to marry and continued on with his romantic liaisons, one of which distressed Prince Albert so much that he got sick and died. After the death of her beloved consort, Queen Victoria was determined for Bertie to marry Princess Alexandra, as it was what Prince Albert wanted, and she was desperate for her wayward son to settle down.
The Prince of Wales dutifully proposed to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in order to make Queen Victoria happy, but he also loved Alexandra and believed they could be happy together. They were married on March 10, 1863, in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor.
The Married Life of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra
For Princess Alexandra of Denmark, now the Princess of Wales and the future Queen Alexandra of Great Britain, settling into life in the British court may not have been easy because she was shy and used to being in the small familial court of her father. But the British royal family and her new subjects quickly fell in love with her because of her charming and unpretentious manner, and Queen Victoria in particular appreciated her seriousness and religious devotion.
The couple first lived at Marlborough House. Bertie and Alexandra were a fun-loving couple, and soon became popular with high society and the artistic set. But they continually had problems with Queen Victoria, as she loved her son but distrusted his lifestyle. Queen Victoria could also never completely trust Princess Alexandra because of her Danish connections, but Victoria loved her daughter-in-law and realized how hard it must be for her to live with a philandering husband. But Bertie and Alexandra were a very glamorous, popular couple, and often represented Queen Victoria on foreign visits.
Bertie and Alexandra had a relatively happy family life. They tried to be close to their six children, and Princess Alexandra in particular was very protective of her children. The couple suffered the loss of two children, the day-old Prince John in 1871 and their eldest son Albert Victor, the Duke of Clarence, in 1892. Bertie also never gave up his womanizing ways, which Alexandra endured with dignity throughout their married life.
The Marriage of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Great Britain
The marriage of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra was a love match, but the couple endured difficulties within and outside of their marriage. Bertie, particularly when he was Prince of Wales, was always a philanderer, and Princess Alexandra had to console herself with the knowledge that at least her husband loved her best. But they were a popular couple in Britain and overseas, where they best served Queen Victoria as ambassadors of Great Britain. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra also had six children whom they loved, and through their children the present British and Norwegian royal families are descended from them. In royal and dynastic terms the marriage was a success, and it also brought happiness to the couple and their family.
Source:
Kiste, John van der. Queen Victoria’s Children. Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1986.
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