Edward VII of Great Britain and Ireland (1841-1910)

Prince Albert Edward of Great Britain of Ireland was born on the 9th November 1841 at Buckingham Palace, the second child and eldest son of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) and Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland (1819-1901). Albert 'Bertie' was not an academic and had little discipline and soon gained the title of playboy - his bad attitude and disregard for duty meant that his mother blamed him for the death of his father, Prince Albert. He married Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925) on the 10th March 1863 at Windsor Castle - they remained married for the rest of his life, but still had many mistresses, it was rumoured that he fathered a child by one of them. Albert and Alexandra had six children: Albert Victor (1864-1892), George (1865-1936), Louise (1867-1931), Victoria (1868-1935), Maud (1869-1938) and Alexander John (1878). On his mother's death in 1901, Albert became King and Emperor as Edward VII, and reigned for nine years, until his death on the 6th May 1910 at Buckingham Palace, aged 68.