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Edward the Seventh
Edward the Seventh (1975) DVD cover.jpg
Genre Historical Drama
Written by
  • David Butler
  • John Gorrie
  • Philip Magnus
Directed by John Gorrie
Starring
Theme music composer Cyril Ornadel
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s)
  • English
  • German
  • French
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13
Production
Producer(s)
  • Cecil Clarke
  • Lorna Mason
Cinematography Tony Imi
Running time 50 minutes
Production company(s) ATV
Release
Original network ITV
Original release 1 April (1975-04-01) – 1 July 1975 (1975-07-01)

Edward the Seventh is a British TV show from 1975. It's a historical drama that tells the story of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. The series has 13 episodes and was made by ATV.

The show is based on a book about King Edward VII by Philip Magnus. It stars Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria, and Timothy West plays the older Edward VII. Younger versions of Edward are played by Simon Gipps-Kent and Charles Sturridge. Helen Ryan and Deborah Grant play the older and younger Queen Alexandra. The series was directed by John Gorrie.

Only the last three episodes show Edward as king. This is because he became king when he was almost 60 years old and reigned for only nine years. Annette Crosbie, who played Queen Victoria, won an award for her acting in the show. She appeared in ten of the thirteen episodes. The series was first shown on TV in the UK between April and July 1975. In the United States, it was called Edward the King.

Main Characters

This section introduces the main actors and the real-life royal figures they played in the series.

The Royal Family

  • Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria (episodes 1–10)
  • Timothy West as Albert Edward ("Bertie"), who later became King Edward VII (episodes 5–13)
  • Helen Ryan as Princess Alexandra, who later became Queen Alexandra (episodes 6–13)
  • Robert Hardy as Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband (episodes 1–4)
  • Felicity Kendal as Bertie's older sister, Princess Vicky, who became Empress Frederick of Germany (episodes 2–5, 8, 10 and 11)
  • Michael Byrne as Fritz, who later became Frederick III, German Emperor (episodes 2–5, 8)
  • Charles Sturridge as Young Bertie (episodes 2–4)
  • Simon Gipps-Kent as Younger Bertie (episode 2)
  • Deborah Grant as Young Alexandra (episodes 4–5)
  • Christopher Neame as Bertie's nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II (episodes 8 and 10–13)
  • Gwyneth Strong as Minny (young Dagmar) (episodes 4–5)
  • Jane Lapotaire as Empress Marie of Russia (older Dagmar, who was Alexandra's sister) (episodes 6–8, 10, 12–13)
  • Alison Leggatt as the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria's mother (episodes 1–3)
  • Charles Dance as Bertie's eldest son, Prince Eddy (episodes 8–9)
  • Michael Osborne as Bertie's second son, Prince George, Duke of York, who later became King George V (episodes 8–13)
  • Ian Gelder as Bertie's brother, Prince Alfred (episodes 2–6)
  • Julian Sherrier as Napoleon III, Emperor of the French (episode 2)
  • Chloe Ashcroft as Eugénie, Empress of the French (episode 2)
  • Patricia O'Brian as Bertie's sister, Princess Helena (episode 2)
  • Deborah Makepeace as older Princess Helena (episodes 3–6)
  • Shirley Steedman as Bertie's sister, Princess Alice (episodes 3–6)
  • Judy Loe as Princess Mary of Teck, who later became Queen Mary (episodes 9–13)
  • Cheryl Campbell as Bertie's youngest sister, Princess Beatrice (episodes 8 and 10)
  • Anthony Douse as Christian IX of Denmark (episodes 4, 5 and 12)
  • Kathleen Byron as Princess Christian, later Queen Louise of Denmark (episodes 4–6)
  • Vanessa Miles as Bertie's daughter, Princess Louise (episode 10)
  • Madeleine Cannon as Bertie's daughter, Princess Toria (episode 10)
  • Rosalyn Elvin as Bertie's daughter, Princess Maud, who became Queen Maude of Norway (episode 10)
  • Bruce Purchase as Alexander III of Russia (episodes 6–8)
  • Michael Billington as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (episodes 10, 12 and 13)
  • Meriel Brooke as Tsarina Alexandra (episodes 10 and 13)
  • Paul Greenhalgh as King George I of Greece (episodes 5, 8, 10)
  • Geoffrey Wincott as King William I of Prussia (episode 6)
  • Mel Churcher as Princess Hélène of Orléans (episode 9)

Important Politicians

Other Notable People

  • Edward de Souza as Luis de Soveral, Portuguese ambassador (episodes 11–13)
  • Patience Collier as Baroness Lehzen (episode 1)
  • Noel Willman as Baron Stockmar (episodes 1–2)
  • Peter Carlisle as James Buchanan (episode 3)
  • Kathryn Leigh Scott as Harriet Lane (episode 3)
  • Guy Slater as Lord Carrington (episodes 3–4, 6–8 and 11–12)
  • Martin Skinner as Sipido (episode 10)
  • Peter Howell as Francis Knollys (episodes 8–10 and 12–13)
  • Brewster Mason as Otto von Bismarck (episode 8)
  • Denis Lill as Frederick Ponsonby (episodes 11–13)
  • Barbara Laurenson as Charlotte Knollys (episodes 9–13)
  • Basil Hoskins as Lord Esher (episodes 11–13)
  • William Dysart as John Brown (episodes 6–8)
  • Robert Robinson as Ernest Cassel (episodes 10, 12, 13)

Episode Guide

This section gives a short summary of each episode in the series.

No. Title UK air date
1 "The Boy" 1 April 1975 (1975-04-01)
In 1841, Queen Victoria has just had her second child, Prince Albert Edward, known as Bertie. She is very busy with her royal duties. Her husband, Prince Albert, wants a bigger role in the government. With help from his friend, Baron Stockmar, Albert slowly becomes a key advisor to the Queen. They start planning Bertie's education very early.
2 "An Experiment in Education" 8 April 1975 (1975-04-08)
Young Bertie has a tough childhood. His father, Prince Albert, believes in very strict education and constant study. Bertie struggles with this, which worries his parents. He visits Paris with his parents and charms Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie. This is important because of the Crimean War against Russia. Bertie's older sister, Vicky, marries the Crown Prince of Prussia. Bertie feels left out and wants to do something useful.
3 "The New World" 15 April 1975 (1975-04-15)
After a successful trip to America, Bertie returns home. His parents don't see it as his personal success. He is sent to University of Oxford but is still closely watched. Bertie wants to join the army, and after some discussion, his father agrees. He becomes a lieutenant colonel in the Grenadier Guards and trains in Ireland. Meanwhile, there are conflicts in Italy and the American South. Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, passes away.
4 "Alix" 22 April 1975 (1975-04-22)
Bertie continues his military training. His parents are looking for a wife for him. They choose Princess Alexandra of Denmark, known as Alix, even though there are tensions between Denmark and Prussia. Bertie and Alix meet briefly. Prince Albert learns about some of Bertie's past behavior and is upset. He visits Bertie at Oxford, and they talk. Prince Albert dies from typhoid in late 1861, after trying to prevent a war with the United States.
5 "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes" 29 April 1975 (1975-04-29)
Queen Victoria is very sad after Prince Albert's death and withdraws from public life. Bertie takes on many public duties and becomes very popular. However, the Queen blames him for his father's death and refuses to let him help with important government decisions. She pushes him to marry Alix quickly. Bertie and Princess Alix marry in March 1863. Soon after, Alix gives birth to their first son, Prince Eddy, early. Meanwhile, problems between Denmark and Prussia lead to the Second Schleswig War.
6 "The Invisible Queen" 6 May 1975 (1975-05-06)
Bertie and Alix's family grows, but Alix is often unwell. Political issues cause problems within the royal family, especially after Germany takes parts of Denmark. Queen Victoria still avoids public events. Bertie's name is mentioned in a court case. The defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War and the Queen's absence lead to some people wanting to end the monarchy. Prime Minister Gladstone suggests Bertie become Viceroy of Ireland, but the Queen says no. Bertie becomes very ill with typhoid at Sandringham, ten years after his father died from the same illness.
7 "Dearest Prince" 13 May 1975 (1975-05-13)
Even after Bertie recovers from typhoid, the Queen still won't give him any real power. After a successful visit to Coventry and hosting royal relatives from Russia, the new Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, looks for a suitable role for Bertie. Bertie suggests an official trip to India. To his surprise, Victoria agrees, but Alix is sad she cannot go with him. Bertie faces a challenge from Lord Randolph Churchill regarding a personal matter.
8 "The Royal Quadrille" 20 May 1975 (1975-05-20)
Bertie and Alix travel to Denmark and meet other royal relatives, including Alix's brother, King George of Greece, and the Russian Tsar and Tsarina. Bertie warns the Tsar about his strict rules. Bertie visits his sister Vicky and her husband, Fritz, in Prussia. Vicky is worried about her son, William, who is influenced by Bismarck. When there's a mutiny in Egypt, Bertie wants to join his regiment, but the Queen refuses. Prime Minister Gladstone asks Bertie to study housing conditions for working-class people. Bertie is shocked by what he sees. In 1887, Bertie takes part in his mother's Golden Jubilee. The next year, his brother-in-law Fritz dies after a short reign.
9 "Scandal" 27 May 1975 (1975-05-27)
Bertie tries to help Lady Brooke with a personal issue involving a letter. This leads to a disagreement with Lord Charles Beresford. Later, during a visit to Tranby Croft, Bertie is involved in a gambling incident where a man is accused of cheating. The events become public. Bertie and Alix encourage their eldest son, Prince Eddy, to find a wife. Prince Eddy chooses Princess May of Teck, but he sadly dies on January 14, 1892. In May 1893, Prince Eddy's younger brother, Prince George, proposes to May, and they marry on July 6, 1893.
10 "The Years of Waiting" 3 June 1975 (1975-06-03)
Bertie is frustrated that Queen Victoria still won't let him be involved in government matters. He hosts his nephew and niece, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra, at Balmoral. In 1897, the King of Greece asks Alexandra for help against the invading Turks. Victoria is more interested in her upcoming Diamond Jubilee celebration. The Boer War makes Bertie unpopular in Europe, and he faces an assassination attempt in Brussels. In early 1901, Bertie learns his mother is dying at Osborne House. He is present when she passes away at 81.
11 "King at Last" 10 June 1975 (1975-06-10)
After waiting almost 60 years, Bertie becomes King Edward VII when his mother dies. He decides to reign as Edward VII, not Albert Edward. Many wonder if he is ready to be king. His nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II, suggests an alliance between Britain and Germany, which Edward supports, but his ministers don't take him seriously. Queen Alix struggles to adjust to their new life. Edward's sister, Vicky, is dying, and he visits her in Germany. Edward is frustrated when his coronation is delayed twice, first due to the Boer War, and then because he needs emergency surgery. Finally, on August 9, 1902, Edward and Alix are crowned in a simpler ceremony.
12 "The Peacemaker" 17 June 1975 (1975-06-17)
King Edward feels limited by his role as a constitutional monarch. His idea for an alliance with Germany is rejected by the government. Looking for a way to make a difference, the King announces a tour of European nations, including France, a former enemy. His arrival in France is met with some disapproval, but he soon wins over the people. His nephew, the German Emperor, visits England but has become very proud, which annoys the King. After the failed alliance, Germany starts building up its army and navy.
13 "Good Old Teddy!" 1 July 1975 (1975-07-01)
The King's health declines in his final years. Britain forms the Triple Entente, an agreement with France and Russia, knowing Germany will see it as a threat. The German Kaiser still visits his uncle. Germany's military growth is seen as a threat to the United Kingdom. The King and Queen visit Russia to see the Tsar. The King's health worsens after a visit to Germany. At home, the King faces a political crisis when the House of Lords refuses to approve a budget. He returns to London from France. The King's illness gets worse, and he dies on May 6, 1910.

Soundtrack

The series features several songs from the time period:

  • "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze"
  • "Champagne Charlie"
  • "The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery" (Episode 10)
  • "A Wand'ring Minstrel I" (Episode 12)

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