I’m continuing on with watching the miniseries Edward the King (1975) in desperate hopes of ever getting to the bustle era! In this episode, Prince Bertie is starting to become a Man, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert continue to be shitty parents, the American Civil War happens, and Vicky has a baby. Not necessarily in that order.
The costumes for this series were designed by three designers: Ann Hollowood (Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Merlin) and Sue Le Cash, who worked on The Muppet Show, which is pretty damn cool; Christine Wilson is also credited.
Prince Albert (the future Edward VII) goes on a tour of the United States and is a smashing success! He’s personable and handsome, and he enjoys himself although he’s still very controlled by his handlers.
He WANTS to dance with the Pretty Young Things:
But has to dance with the old floozies:
When he returns home, his parents ascribe all his success to American fondness for the queen, very much deflating his sails.
First daughter Vicky, now Princess of Prussia, has had a baby and is busy. Queen Victoria is miffed she doesn’t write back often, so Albert suggests they go visit. One of the baby’s arms is underdeveloped, which is A Big Secret.
When they return to England, Bertie continues to be frustrated — he wants to be given some kind of role and focus. He’d REALLY like to go in the army, but mom and dad say no (with the stupid logic of that would somehow slight the navy). Meanwhile the parents are great with all the OTHER kids.
The American Civil War breaks out. Victoria and Albert are torn about whether or not to recognize the Confederacy. Albert comes up with a wish-washy line about acknowledging the importance of the cotton trade (all the textile manufacturing that’s exploding in England in this era is done using cotton from the American South), but that they can’t support a country whose primary reason for existing is slavery.
At Cambridge, Bertie’s handlers keep a strict hold on him, but he finally manages to make a few friends. He manages to sneak off for one night on the town, where he goes to a music hall. We finally get a bit of sparkle!
Albert and Victoria act like Bertie ate a baby, they’re so horrified. The Duchess of Kent (Victoria’s mom) suggests they start thinking about marrying him off to give him something to do, AND let him go into the army just for some training. Victoria suddenly LOVES both ideas.
The Duchess of Kent dies, and Victoria is distraught/makes it all about her/uses it as yet another excuse to push her son away. Only daughter Alice is allowed to comfort her mother.
Bertie goes to Ireland for army training, and he gets a chicken hat!
Princess Vicky is Team Marry Off Bertie so is busy making lists of available princesses.
Bertie is of course given the Full Royal treatment, which peeves him, because he wants to prove himself. But he’s actually tested a bit on the training field, even if that consists of standing/moving in formation.
Albert takes Victoria to Scotland, which cheers her up. She mentions that Albert and John Brown are very alike, which is Foreshadowing.
The fam comes to visit Bertie at Army Camp. He’s embarrassed that they’re making him stick out/get special treatment yet again.
Princess Alexandra of Denmark is low on the list of possible brides, but this closeup Portends:
Back at Army Camp, Bertie’s handler takes one night off, so his university pals, several of which are at the same training/camp/whatever, throw him a party with a REAL floozy, Nellie Clifden. Bertie pops his cherry!
Stay tuned for episode 4 of Edward the King soon! Did you find any costumes you liked in this episode?
I like that there’s effort now in the women’s clothing.
I do not like that Alexandra’s photograph was taken in 1975. She’s what Monty Python would call an effing princess, and shouldn’t be smiling.
HA! Great catch!
The 1860s, finally getting some interesting costume content!
This will happen when actual colours start appearing – God bless those peacocking army boys and their glad rags.
Also, it’s rather amusing that Queen V and Prince Albert never come up with the obvious solution of letting Prince Albert spend time with the RN and then spend some time with the Army (Which seems to be the modern expedient).
Clearly they were worried Prince Bertie might get a reputation for two-timing the Senior Service with those landlubbers in red!
The way it’s depicted in the series is Albert hates the army idea so Victoria does, but as soon as someone shows enthusiasm for it (the Duchess of Kent) suddenly Victoria LOVES it. Was she really that mercurial? I mean, I know she had her moods!
Given that the historic Queen V was very proud of her father’s army service, I suspect we might best read this as Her Majesty being generally in favour of the idea, but specifically vulnerable to being swayed by Prince Albert (Which is, I think, more defensible based on a reading of the history).
I can see young, adorable Nigel Havers in the top pic. I’d watch it just for that!