I’ve long wanted to watch the British miniseries, Edward the King (1975) (aka Edward the Seventh). When I was in my 20s, I went through a spate of reading biographies of King Edward VII‘s mistresses, as they were all fabulous, glamorous late Victorian women. And the costumes have always looked great! However, the fact that it’s a British TV series from the 1970s always put me off — I knew it would be Bad Videography Time(TM). Well, I was right, but I did find a high-res version of the series on YouTube, so I figured it was time to take one for the team!
See recaps of previous episodes.
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.
Everyone, but especially Victoria, is DEEP IN MOURNING for Prince Albert.
While in Denmark, Alexandra is warming up to the idea of marrying Bertie.
The actor playing Bertie has transitioned to Timothy West, which was NOT a great idea given West was around 40ish during filming of this series and it shows (hello forehead wrinkles!). The real Bertie was 22ish when he got married, which is when this episode is set, and West just doesn’t work yet.
Alexandra and company head to England (I think the Isle of Wight? I watched the first half of this episode a few weeks ago) to meet Victoria, who grudgingly decides to approve of her. Bertie proposes, and it’s very lovey-dovey which doesn’t seem like a great idea given where things are going to go later in life.
Alexandra goes home to get ready to move to England, and then moves!
Her arrival scene is very detailed, I’m thinking because there is a painting commemorating the event (and showing us what they wore!).
Some of the few promo images for this production are in B&W and listed on Ebay…
The Wedding Happens!
Bertie and Alexandra are IN LOVE! Sister Vicky and her hubby the crown prince of Prussia come to visit.
Bertie and Alexandra get their own house and throw some balls.
The prime minister urges Bertie to Get Out There at all the ribbon cuttings, etc., with Alexandra, as Victoria has totally retreated in terms of public appearances and the public needs to see the royals. A montage of events goes by during which Alexandra wears a varied wardrobe, but the shots are so quick that I could only grab a few outfits:
Alexandra is pregnant! Victoria continues to refuse to allow Bertie to do anything official and is PISSED that Bertie is “socializing,” but she’s still in the same widow’s weeds so there’s nothing to screencap.
Prussia is threatening to invade Denmark’s province of Schleswig-Holstein, as part of their desire to unify Germany and become a Major Power. Alexandra is PISSED, but Victoria basically says to shut it; she decrees that Germany should get to be a major power and that Alexandra needs to realize that she’s British now, not Danish.
Bertie and Alexandra are out in the country when she goes into labor two months early. Everyone is worried, but she has a successful birth — a son! (Albert Victor, the future duke of Clarence and Avondale). Bertie realizes he LOVES Alexandra, and he’d be lost without her!
ARE THE BUSTLES EVER COMING??
Find this frock flick at:
Orange Blossoms….. on the wedding dress?
Orange blossoms on the wedding dress…
We’re still waiting for the Bustles. Getting impatient now!
SAME
You knew what you were getting into!
I also feel that the Basque/Sheer Over Skirts combo is super Disney/Cinderella coded but in a hideous butter yellow! At least Cinderella’s dress was in a subtle silver!
I don’t understand the logic behind the hair department’s styling choices.
What is happening with Bertie’s hair in the back? Did they just spray it into a massive facade?
maybe the director had an irrational fear of women’s ears. real freudian.