I’m continuing on with watching the miniseries Edward the King (1975), still in desperate hopes of ever getting to the bustle era! In this episode, Prince Bertie wrestles with the idea of getting married, which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are set on him doing; the future Queen Alexandra is introduced; and Albert dies.
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.
Princess Alix of Denmark is a historical manic pixie dream girl! She loves her family and tears around with her hair down, but is natural, unaffected, and most importantly beautiful. The English ambassador’s wife has come to scope her out, and she reports back to Vicky in Prussia the big thumbs up.
Victoria is consumed with who Albert should marry. There are several German princesses in the mix, but Alix of Denmark is most promising. She gets the full report from the English ambassador’s wife.
At army training, Bertie is becoming even more sure of himself. He and his friends continue to plot to get him to the music hall so he can carouse, while his parents think he has zero experience with The Ladies.
Queen Victoria pitches Alix to Bertie, who thinks she’s pretty but isn’t sure. Victoria can’t understand why he doesn’t just fall head over heels.
Alix is summoned to go to Prussia with her parents, and is told she needs to Look Nice, but otherwise NOT told she’s being scoped out.
A faux-casual bump-in is arranged between Bertie and Alix, with Alix being the only one in the loop. But when she gets back to Denmark, her parents ask if she could LIKE like Bertie and are very portentous.
Bertie still isn’t sure — she’s pretty, but he’s met her for like 2 minutes. Victoria is aghast.
The Truth Comes Out about Bertie’s bad behavior, including shagging the actress. Victoria is even MORE aghast; Prince Albert is hugely disappointed but shockingly understanding-ish, even acknowledging that he and Victoria haven’t given much actual love to Bertie.
Albert is tired and not doing well, but the American Civil War is continuing and causing difficulties given that Britain wants to support the South but opposes slavery. Victoria tries to get him to rest.
Albert dies — allegedly of typhoid, but the modern jury is out. Everyone is at his bedside, and Victoria is NOT okay!
Stay tuned for episode 5 of Edward the King soon! Is the actress playing Alix working for you?
Find this frock flick at:
I have a hard time getting past Victoria’s top of the head hairline, which I don’t recall seeing on the real queen. Is it just the actress? And in any case, why isn’t she ever wearing an indoor cap, like most married women at the time?