The King in Love: Edward VII's Mistresses (37 page)

The King was not, for all his gregariousness, a gifted talker. Not only could he discuss nothing in depth, or at length, he was not even a good raconteur. He tended to repeat the same jokes. A dozen words were usually his limit; often these were in the form of an abrupt question or a bantering remark. Although essentially kind-hearted, his tone was often chaffing, teasing, even insulting. In short, the art of conversation flourished no more than any of the other arts at Edward VII's court.

Yet, in the final analysis, none of this really mattered. Constitutional monarchs need not be intellectuals. They need not even be particularly intelligent. To this day, the undeniable success of the institution
of monarchy in Britain is not due to the exceptional mental capacities of the members of the reigning dynasty. It is far more important that monarchs be gracious, conscientious, self-confident and dignified; and that they have a taste and talent for the showier aspects of their calling. In all these respects, Edward VII was eminently well-equipped for kingship. No European monarch had more panache.

With time, he was to prove himself in other ways as well. He was to reveal himself as wiser, more knowledgeable and more politically aware than he had ever been given credit for. But at the start of the reign it was enough that, with monarchy everywhere enjoying a period of almost unparalleled splendour – a last great flowering before being cut down by the First World War – Edward VII should preside over the most magnificent court in Europe.

On his accession Edward VII did not break with Alice Keppel, any more than with other members of his coterie. Those who had imagined that she would be discarded, or at least kept discreetly in the background, were proved very wrong. Not only did she maintain her position as
maîtresse en titre
, she became one of the leading personalities of his court. Throughout the ten years of Edward VII's reign, Alice Keppel was an accepted, respected and highly visible member of the royal entourage. She remained, in the widely used phrase, 'La Favorita'.

There were several reasons for her pre-eminence. The chief one was that the King was devoted to her. Physically, mentally and socially, Alice Keppel met his every requirement. He not only adored but admired her. It was noticed that whenever they were in company together, he never took his eyes off her, and was edgy if he noticed her talking to another man. This adoration was to have an echo in the love of his grandson, the future Edward VIII, for Wallis Simpson. He, too, would keep a constant watch on his beloved and, if she left the room, would look anxious and fretful until she returned.

So attractive, so chic, Alice Keppel was a decorative addition to the King's circle. In many ways she epitomised the Edwardian society woman – worldly, witty, light-hearted. Unlike her royal lover, she was very articulate. 'I liked greatly to listen to her talking,' remembers Osbert Sitwell, 'if it were possible to lure her away from the bridge table, she would remove from her mouth for a moment the cigarette which she would be smoking with an air of determination, through a
long holder, and turn upon the person to whom she was speaking her large, humorous, kindly, peculiarly discerning eyes. Her conversation was lit by humour, insight and the utmost good nature: a rare and valuable attribute in one who had never had – or, at any rate, never felt – much patience with fools. Moreover a vein of fantasy, a power of enchantment would often lift what she was saying, and served to emphasise the exactness of most of her opinions, and her frankness. Her talk had about it a boldness, an absence of all pettiness, that helped to make her a memorable figure in the fashionable world.'
¹²

26. Duntreath Castle, Stirlingshire, birthplace of Al ce Edmonstone (afterwards Keppel).

27. Alice Keppel and her eldest daughter Violet, at the time of her meeting with the Prince of Wales.

28. The King's Mistress: the astute and fascinating Mrs Keppel, at the height of her fame.

29. King at last: a portrait of Edward VII at the time of his accession.

30. With an eye ever open for the ladies, Edward VII hosts a garden party.

31. The Hon. George Keppel, gentlemanly
mari complaisant
.

32. A rare photograph of the King and Mrs Keppel on a golf course in the South of France.

33. The King, with Alice Keppel sitting erect on his left hand, enjoying private theatricals at a Chatsworth house party.

34. Edward VII, presumably accompanied by Mrs Keppel, goes boating on Ascot Sunday.