King Edward VII (1841-1910) [HISTORICAL, Chapter 5, pp. 296 ] was born to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was the second child and eldest son, and successor to Queen Victoria. He married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863, and his second son King George V ascended the throne when their firstborn, the Duke of Clarence, died (Berry). When King Edward VII was Prince of Wales, he often traveled and visited many countries on behalf of the Queen. In 1860 he visited the United States at the invitation of President Buchanan. He was the first heir to the throne to cross the Atlantic (Royal Collection Trust).

In his younger years, King Edward VII endured a strict educational agenda because his parents believed an heir to the throne should be well-educated. He had an eye for the arts and collected hundreds of artifacts from all over the world that are now exhibited in museums. He participated in many public duties during his mother's reign, although his high society lifestyle often caused his mother grief. Edward was 59 when he became King on 22 January 1901 after the death of his mother (Royal Collection Trust). The change in the monarch is reverenced by Orlando when she jumps to the 1900s (Woolf)

Initially, King Edward VII was interested in a military career, but as the heir to the throne, his interest never came to fruition. Naturally, when he became king, he was most concerned with foreign affairs and military matters. King Edward VII played a role in encouraging military and naval reforms, especially the reform of the Army Medical Service. He died on 6 May 1910, aged 68, and was buried at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. He only reigned for 9 years, after which his son George became King. (295 word count).

Berry, Ciara. “Edward VII (R.1901-1910).” The Royal Family, The Royal Household, 3 Aug. 2018, https://www.royal.uk/edward-vii.

“King Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom (1841-1910).” Royal Collection Trust, Royal Collection Trust, https://www.rct.uk/collection/people/king-edward-vii-king-of-the-united-...

Woolf, Viginia. Orlando, Mariner Books. 1928.