| Biography | King Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901until his death in 1910. He was known as Bertie to the family throughout his life. As the eldest son of the British sovereign, he was automatically Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay at birth. As a son of Prince Albert, he also held the titles of Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Duke of Saxony. Queen Victoria created her son Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 8 December 1841. He was created Earl of Dublin on 17 January 1850, a Knight of the Garter on 9 November 1858, and a Knight of the Thistle on 24 May 1867. In 1863, he renounced his succession rights to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in favour of his younger brother, Prince Alfred
He was the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Before his accession to the throne, he served as heir apparent and held the title of Prince of Wales for longer than any of his predecessors. During the long reign of his mother, Queen Victoria, he was largely excluded from political power
The Prince of Wales owned Grand Tier Box 17. This box, together with the Queen's Box, was acoustically the best sited in the Royal Albert Hall auditorium. He used The Prince's Room, now the Prince of Wales's Room, as his Royal Retiring Room. The Prince's Room has always been used as the meeting room for the Council of The Royal Albert Hall. |