A Thousand Blows and a half dozen tangents
Yesterday, I watched A Thousand Blows with my family and Prince Albert showed up.
Not this in-bed-by-9:30-didn’t-like-to-party Prince Albert, cousin/husband of Queen Victoria:
Fun fact: after the midwife delivered the future queen Victoria, she popped over to Victoria’s aunt’s house to deliver her cousin/future husband, future prince Albert!
That Prince Albert’s son, Prince Albert (below) — Prince of Wales. I accidentally drew the father before realizing the timeline didn’t add up.
I remembered Robert Todd Lincoln was given the nickname Prince of Rails while on the campaign trail with his father, Abraham Lincoln. It was a nod to the recent visit of the Prince of Wales (a known playboy), due to Robert Todd Lincoln’s uncharacteristic flirting and drinking whilst they traveled.
Last night, I confidently told my kids that Prince Albert didn’t become king because, well, I don’t remember a King Albert. Which is a weird thing to think because I know they all (mostly) pick new names.
Consulting my royal family tree this morning, I realized I was right. Then I realized there’s no Albert listed under Victoria, so I was wrong. Damn.
Edward was Albert.
Prince Albert becomes king! Specifically, King Edward VII!
This discovery prompted me to wonder if I have any doodles of King Edward VII and sure enough… I do! I even wrote that he was Queen Victoria’s son, future King Edward VII.
Do you have any idea how long it took me to realize that I misspelled “Victoriaville?” A long, long time.
So, who was King Edward VII anyway?
(Formerly Prince Albert, but not the prince consort… that is to say, not a prince that was just a prince because he was married to the Queen… that Prince Albert was this guy’s dad.)
AKA Bertie
Became Prince of Wales at one month old
Toured America — first Prince of Wales to do so! Stayed at the White House with President James Buchanan.
His mom kind of blamed his dad’s death on him partially because of a “dalliance” Edward had with an actress
Longest heir-apparent (and “moodily aware” of it) for a long time (Not anymore! Now that’s King Charles III, King Edward III’s great-great-grandfather, who waited nearly 71 years!)
Became king at 60 or maybe 59 because that’s what my doodle says (this included King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and also Emperor of India)
Biographer Kate Williams pointed out that queens, with their “habit of longevity” don’t “make life easy for their heirs.”
Known as the “Peacemaker” despite his less-than-stellar relationship with German Emperor Wilhelm II, his nephew… which made me realize, hey! I have a doodle of Wilhelm II! Shown below, with his first cousin King George V … son of King Edward VII!
King Edward VII and King George V were also related to both Tsar Nicolas II of Russia and his wife / empress consort.
Died just nine years after becoming king
Here’s some more about the various Kings Edward.
King Edward VII is also related (through marriage) to King George II of Greece (lower right), who maybe visited the White House (as many royals did in the 1940s). Queen Frederika (Frederica?) was married to King Paul, successor of King George. I’m very confused at this point, because from what I’m seeing online King George II was married to Elisabeth of Romania… and Queen Frederika was married to King Paul of Greece.
King George II died in 1947 at which point King Paul took over so maybe King George of Greece visited before he died and then Queen Frederika later on. Separate trips? Who’s to say. Certainly not me.
Queen Frederika was also the granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II and a direct descendant of none other than Queen Victoria and omgmyheadisspinning. And it’s still spinning. (SO MANY THINGS!! Hitler Youth?? Maybe not by choice? Hitler wanted her to marry the Prince of Wales?? Her daughter became Queen of Spain? Probably had an affair with CIA director Allen Dulles?? In his office??) That all seems like a story for another day…
Ew, Allen Dulles
Can’t end thinking about him. Let’s close with a doodle of Prince Albert:
That’s better.
DOODLES INSPIRED BY…
Lincoln, by David Herbert Donald
Becoming Queen Victoria: The Unexpected Rise of Britain’s Greatest Monarch, by Kate Williams
Same Bed Different Dreams: A Novel, by Ed Park
1920: The Year of the Six Presidents, by David Pietrusza
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, by J. B. West and Mary Lynn Kotz
Other TV-related posts:
The Aging Playboy