History remembers King Edward VII as the playboy prince. This fascinating film shows there was so much more to this misunderstood British monarch.

Born the second child and first son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1841, Prince Albert Edward of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was always destined to be king. It was just a very long time coming – by the time he succeeded his mother to the British throne in 1901, King Edward VII was almost 60.

The programme reveals the contradictory personality and extraordinary private life of the man known as‘Bertie’ to his family, showing how he combined the endless pursuit of pleasure with an instinctive grasp of the monarchy’s role in the 20th century. Central to his story are the often troubled relationships with the women in his life, ranging from his mother who blamed him for the death of her beloved husband, to his wife of 50 years Alexandra, and his many mistresses. Queen Victoria’s refusal to involve him in state matters forced him into 40 years of enforced idleness, so Bertie spent his days gambling, overeating, shooting, smoking and womanising.

But his exclusion from domestic policy also led him to carve out a significant role abroad, and when he eventually became king he brought considerable skill and influence to foreign policy. In fact, he proved a greater success as king than many had expected, but his reign lasted just nine years – he died in May 1910.

Drawing on new research and featuring unseen letters and documents from the Royal Archives and private collections, Bertie unravels the mystery of Edward VII to reveal the man he was.

Producer/Director
Rob Coldstream
Executive Producer
Denys Blakeway


DURATION
1 x 50