The Heir Apparent (96 page)

Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, shortly before the Mayerling tragedy.

Daisy Brooke entertains the Prince of Wales at Easton Lodge, November 1891. From right: “Fat Mary,” Duchess of Teck; Princess May; the Marquis de Soveral, “the Blue Monkey” (seated); Daisy. Lord Brooke sits in front of Bertie.

Daisy with her son Maynard shortly after her “abdication” as Bertie’s mistress.

Queen Victoria, photographed by Alexander Bassano in 1882 wearing her crown made of one thousand diamonds. She refused to share power with Bertie.

May of Teck: engagement photo, 1891. Just over six weeks later her fiancé, Eddy, was dead; in 1893 she married his brother George.

Britain’s German family: Queen Victoria and Bertie at Coburg, 1894. From left: Arthur, Duke of Connaught; Affie, now Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Kaiser William II; his mother, Vicky, the Empress Frederick. The kaiser’s quarrel with his mother, his uncle Bertie, and his grandmother transformed dynastic diplomacy.

House party at Rufford with the Saviles, 1899. Consuelo Marlborough is on Bertie’s left. Mrs. Keppel sits, far right; as in all photographs, her gaze is firmly fixed on Bertie.

Invitation to the Coronation that was postponed because of Bertie’s operation.

The King in his study in 1901. Overwork made him ill in the first year of his reign.

Bertie recuperating after the Coronation with Alix on a cruise aboard the
Victoria and Albert.

Charlotte Knollys (left), woman of the bedchamber to Alix for more than fifty years, and Francis Knollys (right), her brother, Bertie’s private secretary. After forty years with Bertie, he went on to serve George V.

Alix in the midst of her family in Denmark: her father (King Christian IX), her sister Minnie (Dowager Empress of Russia), and (with her back to the camera) her sister Thyra (Crown Princess of Hanover).

The kaiser (back row, fourth left) stays at Windsor, November 1907. There are five queens and four kings in this photograph.