The future King Edward VII was born on November 9, 1841. He was the son of the British ruler Victoria and her husband Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Before the coronation, the heir bore the double name Albert Edward (the first was given to him at baptism). This monarch became the first in the Windsor dynasty. He spent more time as heir to the throne than any of his predecessors (59 years). Edward's record was broken in 2011 by today's Prince of Wales, Charles.
Disobedient child
Edward VII, whose reign spanned 1901 - 1910, remained heir to the throne for a record long time (his mother Victoria died in old age). Because of this, Windsor spent his entire youth as Prince of Wales. Since childhood, he has retained an uncontrollable character. The teachers could hardly get along with Bertie (that's what his relatives called him).
At the age of 17, the heir began studying at Oxford. At the university, a previously unfamiliar world of horse racing, gambling, alcohol and cigars opened up to the young man. The temptations of youth were not conducive to discipline. To accustom his son to order, his father sent him to serve in the army in Ireland. However, this did not change the future of Edward VII.
Conflict with mother
Personal life
Although Edward's marriage to Alexandra was actually forced on the heir by Victoria, family life the young couple who got married in 1863 was simply wonderful at first. Their relationship cooled a few years after the birth of their third child.
Edward began to spend more and more time away from home. Brothels became his favorite places of leisure. The Prince of Wales especially appreciated the brothels of Paris, where he left his homeland at the first opportunity. The heir to the British throne made many dubious friends and women of easy virtue.
Once Edward got into a disgusting scandal due to the fact that he entered into a relationship with married woman, which her husband, an influential baron, found out about. The trial took place. The girl was sent for compulsory treatment to a psychiatric hospital. The prince was present at the trial as a witness, but all the English newspapers were happy to chew on this unpleasant story for the royal court. Edward, however, continued to lead a frivolous lifestyle in subsequent years. He had affairs with several actresses.
Edwardian era
The period when Edward VII was in power (1901 - 1910) is remembered in British history as the Edwardian era. The monarch ascended the throne at the age of 59. For subsequent generations of British people, that time began to evoke good-natured nostalgic emotions. The Edwardian era was and is considered carefree, peaceful and calm. On the background Great War(that's what the British call the First world war) it really did seem like an idyllic time.
Edward VII himself was the best personification of his time. Life-loving and a good judge of entertainment, he was the complete opposite of his strict mother Victoria. In his youth, having shocked the public more than once with his antics, the king has now brought back to life the brilliant ceremony of power (for example, the annual magnificent opening ceremony of the British Parliament was revived).
Progress period
For people who belonged to high society or had significant means, Edward II was the living embodiment of comfortable life. At the beginning of the 20th century, wealthy Englishmen became familiar with new technical and scientific achievements. Under Edward, cars became widespread, and long-distance travel by train and ferry became popular. Talented artists and writers created. Art Nouveau, that is, modernism, arose in art.
But despite the external splendor, the British King Edward VII also had numerous concerns. A large-scale struggle between various social groups and classes. Opposing political factions tried to lead the monarchy in the right direction, in their opinion. Socialism was gaining popularity among working-class Britons.
Rapprochement with France
In foreign policy, Edward VII, whose reign occurred on the eve of the First World War, followed a course of rapprochement with Russia and France. It was he who stood at the origins of the Entente. During the First World War, this alliance would oppose Germany, Austria and Turkey. In fact, the creation of blocs by the great powers became one of the most important prerequisites for the start of bloodshed. Nevertheless, Edward remained in the memory of his compatriots as a peacemaker monarch.
The British monarch signed an alliance agreement with France in 1904 (it also went down in history under the name “Agreement of the Heart”). Thanks to this agreement, Edward stopped the long-term colonial conflict between the two countries in Africa. The boundaries of the powers on this continent were agreed upon and were no longer subject to dispute. England and France also issued a joint declaration on the disputed Morocco and Egypt. In Paris, they abandoned Newfoundland, for which they received part of the border lands in Africa. By signing the Treaty of the Heart, King Edward VII scored a major diplomatic victory.
Relations with Russia
In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, after which Russia sent Far East a squadron that was supposed to sail across the Atlantic and around Africa. While in the North Sea, the ships mistakenly shot at several civilian ships carrying British fishermen. Two people died. Soon Edward VII learned about what had happened.
The King of England did everything to smooth out the conflict. An arbitration court was created to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy. Russia paid compensation to the injured fishermen and their families. However, relations between the two powers were for some time in their worst state since the Crimean War.
The emergence of the Entente
Due to the incident with the squadron, Edward had to cancel his planned visit to Russia. When the conflict was smoothed over, the organization of the trip resumed. Finally, in 1908, Edward VII, whose biography was directly related to Nicholas II, visited Russia. The visit of the British monarch was the first such visit in the history of relations between the two countries.
Edward was the uncle of Nicholas II, as well as the uncle of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, which is why he was nicknamed "Uncle of Europe". The family ties that bound the monarchs of the Old World left an additional imprint on their connections. Edward, despite personal relationships, had to choose for the sake of state interests which of his nephews to enter into an alliance with.
In 1907 (even before the monarch’s visit) an Anglo-Russian agreement was signed, which in its meaning was similar to the previous agreement with France. The agreement terminated " Big game» in Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Great Britain and Russia have finally delimited their spheres of influence in Central Asia. Edward and Nicholas recognized Chinese rule over Tibet and renounced their own interests in the region.
After the signing of the Anglo-Russian agreement, the Triple Entente was finally formed. Edward abandoned the policy of “brilliant isolation” that characterized his mother’s era. The king took this step because of the threat to German hegemony and Germany's growing colonial ambitions.
Financial difficulties
Four years after Edward VII became king, the Unionists and Conservatives, which had been in power for almost twenty years, lost the election to the Liberal-Labour alliance. The new Parliament and monarch needed to resolve several complex internal problems that had simmered during the Victorian era. The greatest concern of society was the financial burden that fell on the shoulders of taxpayers due to huge expenditures on the army, police, officials and courts.
The Anglo-Boer War, which the king inherited from his mother, ended in 1902, but it managed to generate a significant public debt. Although the scepter of Edward VII was a symbol of power for the largest empire of its time, the monarch could not immediately solve the fiscal problems of the state. It was under Victoria's successor that a faction appeared in parliament demanding a strict policy of protectionism.
Constitutional crisis
Under Edward VII, Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George became popular politicians. They advocated increasing wages for workers in areas where previously wage was the lowest. Their measures supported the actions of municipal authorities and charities. As a result of this policy, mortality decreased and the standard of living of ordinary UK residents began to increase.
However, the innovations that Edward also supported were extremely expensive for the treasury, which aggravated pre-existing financial problems. The military also demanded money, frightening society and politicians with the growing German threat. As a result, the 1909 budget proposed by Lloyd George was based on the idea of shifting the tax burden onto the wealthy part of the country's inhabitants - it was planned to introduce new taxes on land, excess profits and inheritance.
The ideas of the liberals were opposed by the leader of the opposition, Arthur Balfour. He rejected the budget through the House of Lords. As a result of the conflict between politicians, the end of Edward's reign was marked by a constitutional crisis. By tradition, the House of Lords has never interfered in the financial decisions of the state. The split in parliament was smoothed out after the death of the king. In 1911, an act was passed that limited the power of the unelected House of Lords.
Death and legacy
Since his youth, Edward had the habit of smoking more than ten cigarettes and cigars a day. Towards the end of his life, the king suffered from bronchitis. In 1909, during an official visit to Berlin, he suffered a brief loss of consciousness. In the last days of his life, the king’s illnesses intensified. The monarch died on May 6, 1910 at Buckingham Palace. He was 68 years old.
When the throne of Edward VII was empty, royal powers passed to his son George V. A few days later the funeral took place. The burial of the deceased took place in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Almond-shaped Edward VII tokens and coins were issued in memory of the king.
George was the second son of the British king. The eldest of Edward's six children, Albert Victor, died in 1892 before his turn to take the throne. Nevertheless, George became a worthy heir to his father. Contemporaries noted that their relationship was more like a brotherly one. Today, historians consider Edward VII to be Britain's first truly constitutional monarch and its last king to wield real political power.
In this article we will look at the period in England when it was ruled by King Edward's accession to the throne, the king's policies are quite interesting. It should be noted that he is one of the few oldest Princes of Wales who came to rule the country late. Edward VII lived a very eventful and interesting life, but everything will be described in more detail below.
Childhood and youth of the little prince
Edward VII was born in November 1841 in London. Upbringing little prince was very strict. From childhood, his father insisted that the boy receive a decent education, available only to respectable people. By the way, he himself had such an education. However, Edward fundamentally disagreed with this. He studied at home, and the prince's tutors often reported to his father about the boy's misbehavior. Having received a severe reprimand, Edward calmed down for a while.
It should be noted that such riots had very serious reasons. By nature, the prince was very cheerful and loved to do what he liked, as well as have fun. But his daily routine since childhood was scheduled minute by minute. Moreover, they all consisted of classes. The most that Edward was allowed was a quiet walk in the park. Riding and rowing lessons happened very rarely. The future king was not allowed to play with his peers. Even the books to read were carefully selected. Obviously, this is why the king did not like to remember his childhood so much.
The adult life of the heir to the crown of England
The future life of the crown prince was also predetermined. Although Edward himself wanted to become a military man, by the decision of his father he went to study at the university. He took several courses in well-known and reputable educational institutions. Oxford gave him knowledge of legal sciences, in Edinburgh the prince attended a course in industrial chemistry, and in Cambridge he studied languages, history and literature. The life of the heir to the throne was quite eventful, as his biography tells. King Edward VII, after seeing a free life, increasingly left the overprotection of his parents.
In 1860, the prince went on a trip to the American continent, namely to countries such as Canada and the USA. This trip gave him the long-awaited freedom. Upon his return, he received a letter from the Queen Mother, who informed him that he was now an adult and could live without parental supervision. He was assigned a residence - Whitelage Palace, which was located in the county of Surrey.
Prince of Wales family
It should be noted that the prince was very handsome and many women looked at him. In addition, he had a good-natured character, and sociability was his main trait. Edward VII became his own in any company. And the prince had a huge number of such companies and amusements. After he flew away from his parents' nest, he had a lover.
The prince also led a rather unusual life for his family. All the men of his family preferred to serve in the navy, while Edward chose an army career, and he communicated quite successfully with his fellow officers. All this caused confusion for the prince's family. At the family council, a decision was made about his imminent marriage.
The chosen one was a European princess, and a very attractive one at that. The heir fell in love with Alexandra (that was her name). It was a really strong feeling, and mutual. The wedding between the crowned heads took place on the tenth of March 1863 in St. George's Church in Windsor. After their marriage the couple moved to Sandrigham. After some time, this place became the center of social life in England, as Edward's ruling mother began to live more secludedly after the death of her husband, which happened in 1961.
Attitude towards children and spouse
The couple had five children: two sons - Albert Victor and Georg, and three daughters - Louise, Victoria and Magdalene (there was another, sixth child, who was born last, but he died a day after birth). It should be noted that the birth of children influenced Alexandra’s life, she began to go out less, and her husband cooled off towards her somewhat, although he loved the children and paid attention to them. However, the princess taught herself not to pay attention to this. Edward still loved his children and treated Alexandra herself very tenderly, showering her with expensive gifts and giving her his attention.
And the mistresses of the heir to the throne became already. Throughout his life, in addition to short-term affairs and fleeting meetings with ladies, he had permanent mistresses, and these relationships lasted quite a long time.
Accession to the throne
King Edward VII ascended the throne only after the death of his mother, when this happened in 1901. Before this, he did not interfere in the affairs of government, since his mother considered her son very frivolous. In fact, this was not the case. During his free life, when his activities for the country were limited to social events, he acquired numerous useful acquaintances, as he traveled a lot. This played a role after accession to the throne.
The heir became king at the age of 59. The coronation ceremony itself took place on August 9, 1902. However, it was originally scheduled for the twenty-sixth of June of the same year, but it turned out that Edward had an attack of appendicitis, so the event was postponed for two months. It should be noted that this happened for the first time.
Everyone expected the heir to be crowned Albert Edward I, since his first name was Albert (even as a child everyone called him Bertie). However, many believed that the name was German, and so, to avoid conflict, the heir to the throne was crowned Edward VII. He also came from another dynasty, so now power has passed to the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty.
Political activities of the king
The reign of King Edward VII was marked by good nature and a desire for peace in the country and in the whole world. He was able to conduct the external affairs of the state, since he was fluent in the language of omissions and half-hints, which is so popular in diplomatic society, where important affairs are conducted this way. In addition to personal acquaintances with heads of state, his trump card was that the ruler was fluent in several foreign languages. All this influenced his role in world politics. Although his mother, Victoria, considered her son to be extremely careless.
Of course, the king had such qualities. But when he ascended the throne after the death of his mother, his diplomatic talent developed to its fullest. In Europe he was considered a peacemaker king. He never wanted war. This is evidenced by the following case. In 1903, when an armed conflict broke out between France and Great Britain, it was Edward who convinced French President Laube not to start a full-scale war. This meeting influenced the politics of the three countries, since as a result an alliance of three states was created - the Entente. It included Great Britain, France and Russia.
A minor conflict and deterioration in relations between Russia and England occurred during the Russo-Japanese War. At this time, despite the agreements, Great Britain supplied its warships to Japan. Only when three years had passed after the end of hostilities did the parties come to an agreement. King Edward traveled to Russia to negotiate with Nicholas II, and they came to an agreement that satisfied both states.
Another plus was that the king of England was related to almost all the monarchs in Europe who ruled at that time. Sometimes he was even called “Uncle Europe.”
Edward's awards and some positions
Edward VII, King of England, received several honors during his life. On May 28, 1844, he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, and in 1901 he received the Albert Medal from the Royal Society of Arts.
In addition, the King of England was the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. Let's just say that he did not hide his passion for Freemasonry at all, sometimes he even made public speeches on this topic. Back in 1908, the king opened the Summer Olympic Games, which were held in London.
Last years
The last years of the king's life were marked by frequent illnesses - bronchitis in particular. He also often had bouts of painful coughing and shortness of breath. Of course, all this could not but affect the general condition of his body. He grew weaker every day, but held on. When he died, all his relatives and even his last beloved Alice Keppel (with the queen's permission) were present nearby. Edward VII died on May 6, 1910. The funeral was very solemn, there were many sincere condolences, since the deceased king was truly loved and respected by everyone.
Interesting facts from the life of King Edward VII of England
The king, in addition to foreign affairs, was very interested in naval issues. Obviously, it is no coincidence that his name is “King Edward VII” - was named after the British battleship, a series of which came out in the 1900s. These ships participated in various naval conflicts and were also part of the Atlantic Fleet.
He was also the first trustee of the hospital, which was named after him (King Edward VII). The hospital still exists. It should be noted that the hospital was originally a military hospital, and it was founded by one of the king’s lovers, Agnes Kaiser. Their connection did not stop until Edward's death.
In addition to his passion for maritime affairs, the king was also interested in women. Perhaps this was his next passion after traveling and military affairs. From the moment he set foot on the path of independence, he always had lovers, sometimes even several at the same time. The most famous were actresses Lilly Langtry and Sarah Bernhardt. He was also in a relationship with Alice Keppel, which also ended only with the death of the sovereign.
Conclusion
As you can see, the King of England had quite a lot of interesting biography. Edward VII, who from childhood was surrounded by prohibitions, eventually felt a taste for life and never refused its gifts. The king was a fairly peaceful man who was loved and respected by many, as evidenced by the moment of his death, when his loved ones gathered to pay their respects.
Mechanical magic
In honor of the noble guests, the seven underground lords gave a magnificent feast. A ballet was shown at the feast: the boys and girls from the Lana Pirota Dance Academy showed miracles of art and earned everyone's approval. By the way, the young artists were sent home the next day; staying in the Cave could undermine their fragile health. The Munchkins also left with them, bringing gifts to the underground inhabitants. The little people spent only one day in the Cave, but the fear of its dark and majestic wonders remained in their souls for the rest of their lives.
Both the hosts and the guests slept for a very long time after the feast, of course, with the exception of Tin Woodman and the Scarecrows: they never slept.
Only Lestar got up early and got to work. Even the day before, he met the Time Keeper Ruggiero and talked with him for a long time.
Lestar and Ruggiero liked each other, and an immediate friendship arose between them. The morning after the feast, Lestar found Ruggiero and asked him to take him to the Sacred Cave. Two new friends walked and talked, and behind them the blockheads, under the supervision of masters, dragged pipes, levers and blocks.
From the conversation, Lestar realized that the Keeper of Time does not really believe that Sleeping Water can be returned by witchcraft. The master saw how Ruggiero looked slyly at all the complex mechanics that the wooden people were carrying, and, grinning, said:
“Yes, of course, with such devices things will go better, and the underground spirit will probably retreat.” Otherwise, poor Ellie only had spells. What are spells? Words.
“Venerable Ruggiero, I see you are a perceptive man,” said Lestar. “But I think you shouldn’t inspire such thoughts in the seven kings.”
“I think so myself, honorable Lestar,” agreed the Keeper of Time. “After all, not everything that is said between friends is suitable for the ears of their majesties.”
The old men, satisfied with each other, continued on their way.
In the Sacred Cave, Lestar began serious research. Having ordered the blockheads to remain quiet, he put his ear to the ground in different places, trying to hear the noise groundwater. He held a mirror over the cracks in the rock to catch traces of vapors on it.
His work continued for a long time, and at this time Ruggiero sat on a stone and rested from the long journey. Then Lestar approached him.
- How are you, dear friend? – Ruggiero asked.
“There is hope, but the witchcraft will be long and difficult,” the master answered carefully.
To begin with, the blockheads, under the leadership of Lestar and other Miguns, leveled the area near the pool and installed the base for the drilling apparatus. The work was in full swing in their strong hands; they moved huge stones without effort.
“Oorfene Deuce left you a good legacy,” Ruggiero said, laughing.
“Yes, there’s no need to complain,” Lestar agreed. “But notice that they became obedient workers only after new faces were cut out for them.” And this was done according to the Scarecrow's plan.
The company returned to the city only in the evening. And there a new feast was already being started. It was the Scarecrow, according to the rules of diplomatic etiquette, who prepared a return treat for the kings from the products that his people brought with them.
Several days passed. A constant communication has been established between the City of the Seven Lords and the Sacred Cave. Blockheads, Wingers and underground metal workers were constantly scurrying here and there, carrying parts of machines and necessary materials. But kings, courtiers and spies were prohibited from entering the Sacred Cave. At Lestar's insistence, Ellie told the seven kings that a terrible spirit called the Great Mechanic lived there, and this spirit could only be defeated by mechanical magic. And with mechanical magic, it is extremely dangerous for outsiders to be present; it can affect the mind.
But Ellie’s presence during the preparation of mechanical magic was declared mandatory, and she spent whole days there. The sacred cave could not be desecrated by ordinary everyday needs - food and sleep, and therefore a camp for workers was set up in one of the neighboring caves. They brought beds there and set up a fireplace for cooking.
But for Ellie, as a fairy, an exception was made. The blockheads built a light, cozy house for her in the Sacred Cave, which had everything she needed: a bed, a dining table, a wardrobe for dresses (the Scarecrow brought her a whole dozen!) and everything else. There Ellie, tired of the noise of work, spent hours of rest with Toto.
And the work was in full swing. The drills buzzed, gnawing into the dense rock. Miguna's craftsmen screwed together pipes for pumps and fitted valves. Curious Fred was everywhere: either he was conveying some order to Lestar, or he was carrying the necessary part to the mechanic, or he was looking closely at the work of the drillers. The boy was at the height of bliss: could he have previously thought that he would experience such extraordinary adventures?..
But the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion did not appear in the labyrinth: the damp climate of the Cave turned out to be harmful to them.
After several days in the dungeon, the Scarecrow felt very ill. He moved with difficulty, because the straw was heavy from the dampness, and there was nowhere to dry. In the Cave they cooked on small stoves, from where the fire could not get out and disturb the weak eyes of the underground inhabitants. The stoves did not warm the surrounding air at all.
Things were even worse with amazing brains Scarecrows. The bran with which his head was stuffed had also become damp, and the needles and pins mixed in with it had rusted. This caused the Scarecrow to suffer from headaches, and he began to forget the simplest words.
And even the features of the Scarecrow’s face began to change, because the watercolor paints with which it was painted were dissolved and leaking. 
Concerned, Faramant called a doctor to the ruler. Boril came, a descendant of the same Boril under whom the first euthanasia took place. Round and smug, like his great-great-grandfather, the doctor examined the noble patient.
“Hm, hm, bad,” he muttered. – Your Excellency is developing a very dangerous illness – dropsy. Best treatment – solar heat and light.
“I can’t dishonor... that is, leave Ellie here,” the Scarecrow said dully.
“Then...” the doctor thought. “Then a foundry could serve as a hospital for Your Excellency.” I believe that in its warm dry air you will recover.
The Scarecrow was taken to the workshop and placed in a secluded corner where he did not bother anyone and where the workers did not bother him. Faramant, who was with the ruler as a nurse, made sure that not a single spark from the furnace could fall on the Scarecrow. If this had happened, the patient would have died instead of being cured.
In the dry and hot air of the factory, thick steam rose from the Scarecrow for the first days, and then his health began to improve surprisingly quickly. His arms and legs filled with strength, and clarity appeared in his brain.
It was bad for the Woodcutter too. Dampness penetrated his iron joints and they began to rust. And this rust of the Cave was somehow especially corrosive; even heavy-duty lubrication could not save it. Soon the Woodcutter's golden oiler was empty, and all his limbs creaked as he moved. The jaws did not move, the poor fellow tried in vain to open his mouth: he was numb. The woodcutter became disabled.
Dean Gior invited Dr. Robil to see him. Doctor said:
– So that his Excellency (or perhaps it should be said: his former Excellency?) does not fall apart in the very next few days, he must be placed in a barrel of oil. This is his only salvation.
Fortunately, the last transport contained enough provisions vegetable oil, and the Tin Woodman was immersed there so that only a funnel was visible above the surface, replacing his hat.
And so that the Woodcutter would not get bored, the Longbeard Soldier sat on a chair next to him and told him various entertaining stories from his past, when he still served as Goodwin’s gatekeeper.
For a walk, the Woodcutter sometimes climbed out of the barrel for an hour or two and went to visit the Scarecrow or the Lion. The mighty Lion, the free son of the forests, also had a bad time in the Cave: the king of beasts fell ill with bronchitis. Boril prescribed him powders, and soon the entire pharmacy was empty: it’s easy to imagine what doses of medicine Lev requires! And when Lev had eaten all the powders, he began to eat the pieces of paper in which they were wrapped.
So, not all was well with Ellie’s friends, and this forced Lestar to rush as hard as he could to prepare the mechanical magic.
What can diamonds be useful for?
Not only the rulers of the Magic Land and the king of beasts had a bad time in the Cave. Those who came with them also experienced difficult days. The eternal darkness of the dungeon, the autumn colors of nature, and the humid atmosphere had a depressing effect on people. They were overcome by longing for their homeland, for the blue sky and sparkling sun, for the cheerful singing of birds on the branches of trees, for the rustle of the wind in the groves.
And even the blockheads, these strong and resilient wooden creatures, felt that their arms and legs, swollen from dampness, no longer obeyed them as well as before.
Lestar accelerated his work. During the short hours of rest of the chief master, he was replaced by assistants, and as before, the drills squealed, the blocks creaked, and the hammers pounded. The wonderful water, apparently, went much deeper than expected chief master, but finally her presence was felt in the bowels of the earth. Blunt drills, which needed to be replaced with new ones, emerged from the depths wet. Lestar strictly ordered the people not to touch this water, but one day, when they returned to the Sacred Cave after lunch break, they saw about a dozen mice near the recently removed drill. The mice lay with their paws up and slept in a magical sleep! They licked droplets of Sleeping Water from the drill.
The mice slept for several hours, and precautions during work were doubled.
And then the happy moment came when wonderful water poured into the pre-prepared pool in a powerful stream. Lestar and his assistants, Ellie, Fred Canning, gathered around and watched with respectful curiosity for a long time as the Sleeping Water poured, bubbling and sparkling with a bluish light and releasing hissing bubbles.
Then everyone went about their business. Ellie sat near the house and played with one of the diamonds. The girl really liked these pebbles, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, which she and Fred got from one of the grottoes. She admired the shine of the diamond, then brought it closer to her eyes, then moved it away, tossed it in her palm... Carried away by this simple activity, Ellie did not notice what was happening in the cave, when suddenly Toto, who was lying on her lap, stretched, yawned widely and... fell asleep.
Surprised, Ellie looked around. What she saw amazed her. Fred Canning slept in the most uncomfortable position among the stones. Lestar and his assistants, overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, sank to the floor of the cave, whoever stood where.
In an instant, Ellie realized: “Danger! Wonderful water lulls you to sleep with its vapors!”
She ran up to the stupidly grinning blockheads, who were silently gawking at what was happening, and ordered:
- Hurry! Hurry! Take people and get them out of here!
All those sleeping were immediately transferred to the rest room and laid on beds. Ellie, in mortal alarm, sat down next to Fred and sat until she fell asleep, fortunately, an ordinary one.
The sleepers slept for a whole day and woke up as innocent babies. Ellie was confused:
– What should we do with them?
Then the girl sent the wooden foreman Arum to the Cave for Din Gior and Faramant, ordering him to call them in confidence and not to tell anyone anything.
And she herself took care of Fred: she spoon-fed him porridge and began to teach him to talk. The fumes from the magic water must have not had much time to affect Fred’s brains, because an hour later he smiled and said “Mom,” and then pulled the diamond off the bedside table and put it in his mouth.
- But, but, you’ll choke! – Ellie shouted and took away the dangerous toy.
A few hours later, Faramant and Dean Gior arrived, alarmed by the unexpected call. Having heard the girl's story about what happened, her friends could not understand why everyone fell asleep, but Ellie did not. Faramant began meticulously asking Ellie what she was doing while the others were working. And when it finally became clear that the girl was playing with the diamond, the Gate Guardian sighed with relief and said:
- Well, the diamond turned out to be the talisman that saved you.
-What is a talisman? – Ellie asked.
“This is a thing that protects a person from harm,” Faramant explained.
And all three were glad that the girl decided to work on the diamond at that very time. What if she fell asleep with the others? All of them could lie in an enchanted sleep for a very long time before the stupid idiots would think of doing anything.
Faramant and Dean Gior began raising Lestar and the other Winks, and Ellie spent time with Fred and Totoshka.
The incident was hidden from the seven kings. When Lestar came to his senses, he sent the blockheads to release the wonderful water from the pool through a special tap. And then he went to report to the Scarecrow.
In the dry air of the foundry, the ruler of the Emerald City felt excellent, and brilliant thoughts swarmed through his head. He didn’t even tell anyone about others, because he was the only one who could understand them. During Lestar's report to the Scarecrow, such an idea came into his wise head that he jumped with delight and ordered the master to immediately call the Time Keeper Ruggiero to him.
Having greeted Ruggiero, the Scarecrow asked him:
“Tell me, friend, do you really need seven kings and all this rabble that has gathered around them and that you have to feed?”
Ruggiero, after thinking, replied:
– To be honest, there is no particular need for them. But the people got used to it... And then, each king and his entire retinue slept for six months out of seven.
- And on the seventh they feasted at the expense ordinary people!
“It’s true,” Ruggiero agreed sheepishly.
“So why don’t you put this entire company to sleep?” - asked the Scarecrow.
- All seven kings?! - exclaimed Ruggiero. - This is a great idea! But... but here’s the problem: they will guess that there is an evil intent hidden here, and they will not agree.
– What if you put them to sleep without them suspecting it?
“It’s difficult,” Ruggiero said. – Now Mentaho reigns, he is very smart and insightful.
“We’ll put him to sleep too, and his mind won’t help him.” Lestar, my friend, tell me what happened to you in the cave.
Hearing the story of how people fell asleep from the evaporation of the wonderful water, Ruggiero exclaimed:
– This completely changes things! We will gather this whole horde there, and let them be imperceptibly overcome by a magical sleep. But here’s another difficulty: after all, we, the organizers of this business, will also fall asleep with them. And if we don't show up, it will look suspicious.
“Don’t worry,” Lestar said. - We have talismans for this occasion. – And he told the Time Keeper about the effect of diamonds.
Ruggiero was delighted.
- So, it's decided! We will put all these parasites to sleep, and the country will breathe freely.
- And then? - asked the Scarecrow.
- What - then?
– When will they wake up?
“If they stay near the source, they won’t wake up,” Ruggiero objected.
“But excuse me, my friend,” the Scarecrow said gravely, “this will be a real murder!”
- Sorry, Your Excellency, I didn’t think about that. We'll have to move them to the Rainbow Palace and let them sleep in their storerooms.
- And then? – the Scarecrow insistently asked again.
- What - then? – Ruggiero responded irritably.
- But someday they will wake up!
“We’ll give them water again,” said the Time Keeper hesitantly.
“It’s better to leave them to die in the Sacred Cave,” the Scarecrow exclaimed mockingly. - It will be faster, and you will have less trouble.
“Your Excellency, explain yourself, I don’t understand you,” Ruggiero begged. – Your thoughts are too deep for me, because it’s not for nothing that the inhabitants of the Emerald City called you Thrice Wise!
-Have you heard about this? – The Scarecrow smiled benevolently. - Okay, I'll explain my idea to you. After a magical dream, people wake up like newborn babies, don't they?
- Yes!
– Are they brought up again within a few days and reminded of everything they knew but forgot?
- Yes!
- So who is stopping you from instilling in the same King Mentaho, when he wakes up, that before his enchanted sleep he was not a king, but a blacksmith or a plowman, and teaching him the basics of a new craft?
If lightning had struck at Ruggiero's feet, he would not have been so amazed. A radiant smile appeared on the Time Keeper's face.
– Your Excellency, you are the greatest sage in the world! - he exclaimed.
“Well, everyone has known this for a long time,” the Scarecrow answered modestly.
Edward VII
Portrait of King Edward VII (1841-1910), Franz Xaver Winterhalter
High English society, imbued with the prim morality of the Victorian era, grudgingly tolerated the antics of the Prince of Wales until he went beyond the bounds of decency. When he declared the beautiful Lily Lantry his official mistress and began to appear with her in society, a huge scandal erupted.
He was called Edward the loving. This not the most respectable nickname bothered the monarch himself a little. The king cared even less about the opinions of his loved ones who were trying to interfere with his adventures.
Alfred (1844-1900), later Duke of Edinburgh, and his elder brother Bertie, later King Edward VII.Great Britain and Ireland, 1855
Edward VII was the last representative of the “golden monarchical age”, which ended with the First World War, which forever destroyed the old foundations of British society. The Edwardian era is remembered as a time of croquet, noisy balls and grandiose hunting fun. People in those years became more relaxed.
A notorious rake, Edward loved gourmet dishes. And at the same time, his unbridled sexual appetites brought him not only to the boudoirs of his friends’ wives, but also to European brothels. The writer Henry James was the first to dub Prince Edward “loving,” and Bertie, as his friends called him, did not hide and was even proud of his love victories.
Queen Victoria, Princess Alice, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester aged 80.
Edward's mother, Queen Victoria, and father, Prince Albert, turned his childhood into a nightmare. According to psychologists, constant boring instructions about how a member should behave royal family, caused an internal protest in the boy, which over the years turned into an unbridled passion for the fair sex.
The Prince of Wales - this was the title the prince had before taking the throne - rejected the Puritan principles of his parents. He lived for his own pleasure, trampling on centuries-old established moral principles.
Queen Victoria's family
His life was spent on pleasure trips around Europe, sumptuous dinners, carefree card battles and hunting. He was also fond of sailing and loved the theater.
The Prince of Wales first had sexual relations with a woman at age nineteen, while serving in Ireland.
Prince of Wales
Portrait of Edward, Prince of Wales,
Fellow officers placed actress Nellie Clifden in his bed. From that day on, Bertie’s cheerful life began (that’s what his friends called him).
Twice the country witnessed his scandalous behavior at trial - so far only as a witness. The first time - because of a quarrel at the card table, the second - because of Lady Harriet Mordaunt, who said that her son, who was born blind, was God's punishment for her infidelity to her husband, including with Prince Edward. The prince himself swore that he had never been her lover, but to this day everyone believes that he added perjury to his many sins.
Portrait of Lily Langtry, painted by George Frederick
Edward was 36 years old when fate brought him together with Lily Lantry. He met her at a dinner with one of his London friends, bachelor Sir Allan Young, and they soon became inseparable.
British society was outraged. The prince, like other aristocrats, was not forbidden to have a mistress, but it was completely unacceptable to appear with this lady in high society. It was usually allowed to take a mistress to private clubs, but not to formal dinners.
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Lillie Langtry (1853 - 1929) |
By putting Lily on public display, Edward challenged high society. For ten years, his relationship with the actress shocked all of Europe.
At that time, Edward had no government duties, since his mother did not intend to leave the throne, and he increasingly threw himself into the abyss of pleasure. To stop their son's shameful behavior, his parents insisted on marrying the Danish Princess Alexandra. But even after the wedding, the prince continued to lead a wild life.
Alexandra, Princess of Denmark in her youth.
Princess Alexandra of Denmark, wedding.
Marriage of HRH The Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
Engraved illustrations inHarper weeknewspaper of the wedding of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and Alexander of Denmark
wedding of Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII) and Alexander of Denmark, London, 1863
Large ceremonial portrait of Queen Alexandra
Emilia Charlotte le Breton was a mystery to many. Calling herself an actress, the only daughter of William Corbet, who held a fairly high spiritual position in Jersey, ran away from home in the hope of finding freedom, happiness and wealth. She was subsequently called "Jersey Lily" after her birthplace.
Lily Lantry
Lily Lantry
Lily's character was probably greatly influenced by her father. Because of his numerous love affairs, he was nicknamed the “vicious priest” on the island. Ironically, his daughter's first suitor turned out to be... the illegitimate son of Corbet himself.
Lily was distinguished by rare beauty. A strict Greek profile, huge expressive eyes the color of spring violets, luxurious silky hair... She seemed to attract fans to her like a magnet.
Lily Lantry
One of the writers said about her: “Lily never wore corsets. Maybe
That’s why she looked like a Greek goddess and an earthly peasant girl at the same time and resembled a marble figurine.”
Lily - right, Frederic Leighton
In 1874, the young beauty married Edward Lantry, the son of a successful shipowner, who came to Jersey to enjoy its wonderful nature, and at the same time squander his father’s money on local beauties. Captivated by Lily's beauty, he proposed marriage to her. She agreed. Soon the young couple moved to England, where Lily became a “professional beauty.” At that time, this was the name given to ladies of aristocratic origin who were photographed dressed, but in rather seductive poses. These photographs were then sold throughout Britain.
Lily Lantry
That evening, when Lily was introduced to the prince, he leaned over to her and whispered in her ear that she was much more attractive in real life than on postcards. A great connoisseur of female beauty, he noticed that none of the images conveyed her “heavenly features.” A week later they became lovers. By that time, Prince Edward was the father of three children... However, Edward did not hide his love affairs from Alexandra. She treated it condescendingly.
Edward VII, with his wife, the future Queen Alexandra, and their first-born, Albert Victor.
However, with Lily the case was out of the ordinary! The prince began to insist that they be recognized by society, and Lily became his official mistress. He appeared with her everywhere, including at the races he adored. In Bournemouth he built a love nest, in which at one time he spent almost all weekends.
Lily Lantry
Once in the famous Parisian restaurant "Maxim" he kissed her on the lips in front of everyone. If Mrs. Lantry's name was not on the invitation card, then Edward himself wrote her name down and always took it with him. He even introduced his mistress to his wife and the Queen Mother at Buckingham Palace, as they desperately wanted to see the person who had such great influence on the prince.
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Lillie Langtry |
Together with Lily, Edward traveled around Europe and stayed in luxurious apartments in the best hotels. At this time, Lily's humiliated husband started drinking and fell into huge debts.
For two years, English society waited with curiosity to see what would follow each new escapade of the prince. And then one day, while in Edward’s mansion, Lily suddenly felt ill. Princess Alexandra invited a doctor, who, after an examination, informed Edward and his wife that Lily was expecting a child.
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Lillie Langtry |
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Lillie Langtry |
It was rumored that the girl Lily secretly gave birth to in France and named Jeanne-Marie was Bertie's daughter. However, there is another version, according to which Lily had, in addition to Edward, another lover, Prince Louis of Battenberg.
The royal family believes that both love affairs developed simultaneously. One way or another, Lily hid the fact that she had a child, claiming that she was raising the daughter of her brother who died in India.
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Lillie Langtry |
The prince continued to patronize Lily and date her. But over time, the craziest passion most often passes. Gradually their relationship became purely friendly. He helped Lily get onto the stage, which his beloved had long dreamed of.
Lily's acting debut took place on December 15, 1881. She played the role of Kate Hardcastle in the play "By the Steps of Power". The Prince of Wales and his wife and representatives of London's high society who were present at the concert loudly applauded the actress, calling her for an encore.
Within five years, Lily became the most famous actress of the time. In 1882 she performed with great success in New York. Her wealth and fame grew rapidly.
Edward was always fascinated by wealth and beauty, and the combination of both made Lily simply irresistible.
Lily Lantry, W. & D. Downey
In 1975, the royal correspondence was published. During the royal family's visit to Sweden, Edward wrote to Lily from Stockholm: “I am happy to hear that you are again at the top of your fame, and I sincerely wish you further success on stage, although I fear for your health - after all, your work is very difficult. "I was pleased to get acquainted with the vast geography of your tours. Being a frequent guest of the King of Sweden, I told him about your successes, and he personally asked me not to forget you and support you. He wishes you success in your acting career."
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Lillie Langtry |
Lilly Langtry
Lilly Langtry
Lily achieved her greatest success in the role of Rosalind from William Shakespeare's As You Like It All. In 1899 she became the wife of Sir Hugo de Bath.
Over time, Edward had new mistresses, among whom was the legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt. But, of course, he did not experience the same passionate feelings for any of them as he did for Lily...
Sarah Bernhardt
Alice Keppel
Alexandra of Denmark and Edward VII.
Edward VII and Alexandra
