Edward VII 11 King at Last

[Music] well Reggie so it's coming at last he's had to wait longer to become king than any man in history nearly 60 years can you hear them they're all wondering if he's up to it a great deal depends on what happens this afternoon they say it's too soon too soon to hold his first council with Queen Victoria dead barly 24 hours nonsense you must take the oath to rule according to the law and make sure the business of the country goes on without interruption look at Salsbury Baler and L down are at him already he doesn't look too happy now is the time to insist on constitutional reform he cannot rule in the same way as his mother even as Prince of Wales he was lightweight prime minister undefendable let him wear his fancy dress uniforms and entertain visitors he's good at that but he must not interfere in the Govern we need to worry all he wants is the position and none of the responsibilities he certainly wasn't given much training for it well now he's too old to learn he must know all the betting against him he won't even try well we shall soon see your Royal highnesses my lords gentlemen this is the most painful occasion on which I shall ever be called upon to address you my first and Melancholy duty is to announce to you the death of my beloved mother the queen and I know how deeply you the nation and I think I may say the whole world sympathize with me in the great loss that we have all sustained my constant Endeavor will be to walk in her footsteps I was christened Albert Edward in the expectation that as Albert Edward I would come to the throne however I am resolved to be known by the name of Edward which has been born by six of my ancestors in doing so I do not undervalue the name of Albert which I inherit from my great and wise father but by Universal consent he is known as Albert the good and I desire that his name should stand alone I trust to Parliament and the nation to support me in the arduous duties which now devolve upon me by inheritance and to which I am determined to devote my entire strength throughout what remains of my life we therefore do now with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and Proclaim that the high and mighty Prince Albert Edward Is Now by The Death of our late Sovereign of happy memory become our only lawful and rightful Le Lord Edward iith by the grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland defender of the faith emperor of India God Save the King I Robert Arthur gascoin Cil Maris of Salsbury prime minister and Lord privil to swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his majesty King Edward iith in his hirs and successors according to law so help me [Music] God [Music] I Arthur James Balor first Lord of the treasury swear that I will be faithful and bear true [Music] Allegiance I thought B's face had crack and salsbury's knees still it didn't seem to go too badly may I um compliment you on your speech sir it was most unexpected but most appropriate and moving oh did you think so Charlie nothing that could have been written for you sir would have sounded so sincere thank you Francis thank you both no I I felt something was called for had to break the ice you see nobody seem to know what to do so long since the last excession nobody's quite sure of the procedures yeah we'll just have to play it by ear for a bit what's going on out there Fritz the ambassadors awaiting Sir with the Prime Minister and Mr beler SS drags his nephew around with him like an old Tugboat toing a battle cruiser what well I suppose we better have them in where the deuce is the Queen the queen Alex I beg your pardon this takes a bit of getting used to it doesn't it but now she is Queen I had hoped she'd be a little more punctual she can't keep the whole diplomatic World waiting I fancy Lisha is showing her the private Apartments sir this is the private Royal study yes it's very gloomy isn't it perhaps a little M and what's through there and the Queen's private Apartments M I'm sorry Lisha the late Queen's private Apartments she always used these rooms on the few occasion she stayed at Buckingham Palace would you care to inspect them [Music] mom well who should we see first if I might suggest the German ambassador there is agitation in Germany that the emperor is still here my nephew is staying on here as a member of the family he does not wish to leave this country until after his grandmother's funeral very understandable sir the gesture has made the Kaiser very popular here it might give us a real chance at last of reaching an understanding with German that will be for discussion between his ministers and yours sir where the devil is Alex the dressing room mom I thought it would be bigger have you never been here before Mom no no no the prince consort's bedroom is through there of course it has not been used for many years the Queen's bedroom is here would you like to see it will it be all right of course maom they're yours now oh I merely thought the king is waiting to receive deputations yes yes I know it cannot begin until you are there he may become impatient let him wait it will do him good oh this is intolerable well let's do something we'll have sov Alin Portuguese Ambassador yes he's a friend of mine and at least the others will know that something's happening please pun me I cannot bear being thought impolite perhaps I could send a messenger to look for her no no no no Mar de soval your majesty may present the deepest condolences of my sovereign king caros of Portugal in your irreparable loss and also his heartfelt felicitations on your accession to which I have the honor to add my own I thank you Eric where on earth have you been oh dear have I kept you all waiting only for 50 minutes well then it's not too bad is it now what do I have to do if your majesty would take the consort's throne not your majesty yet Francis I will not be called that nor will I let anyone kiss my hand until our gracious lady the late Queen is buried love there Grandpa and Papa and cousin Willie yes I am there in front of King caros there and great uncle William priest look there the you Grand Duke yet and the Crown Prince of Denmark Crown Prince of Sweden Romania and [Applause] 'san again let's see it again oh no David that's the third show we look at it again tomorrow it's time you were in bed I'll help you with the m there's no need Nanny can manage well no doubt but so can I come along M right boys will you come to see us Grandpa yes in a little while off your PO they admire you so much I know just how they feel oh thank you Willie when I was a little boy I wanted nothing so much as to be just like my uncle birie thank you yes David's a chip off the old block I'm sorry SAR do you remember what he said George when we told him that his great Grandmama died and gone to heaven oh yes he said oh she won't like that at all why did he say that well that's what we asked him and he said well you see Grandpa she'll have to walk behind the [Laughter] Angels ah very astute yes wasn't it the greatest assembly of crowned heads ever seen honored the Queen's passing ah yes indeed pson be here arranged M you know Fritz don't you of course he was Mama's assistant private secretary I'd like him to stay on with me if he chooses I I should be delighted sir thank you Fritz Uncle Betty let us sit [Music] down I'm so proud to been here with you at this time this may not be the moment but I have wanted to speak to you yes you and I are heads of the strongest nations in the world we should work together to create a lasting alliance between our two countries Britain and Germany regie you're all right with that thing yes thank you sir I'm so sorry you were safe I had not realized until these last weeks how similar in so many ways we are it is not only the natural ties of affection we both have a sincere desire for for peace and order with our two empires United in Friendship together we could police the world the Practical advantages for both our countries would be enormous go on Lord the Kaiser believes that the chief danger to all of us is the growing ambition of Russia Russia is virtually bankrupt and Zan Nicholas is incompetent but financiers in the United States will lend him money to expand into Asia my dear Isa if and uh how will that affect us the Kaiser promises to protect our interests in IND and the Middle East if we protect his in Africa and South America does the king really believe all this he believes the German Emperor is sincere in his desire for an alliance with his country then why was the German ambassador not instructed to discuss it with the British government K of vilhelm wanted the king's views first does he think the king of England is like him and can just tell his government what to do surely such an offer is to be considered Lord landstone whichever Channel it comes to we have never found an acceptable basis for an Anglo German Alliance before the king is convinced of its sincerity he feels it essential that we join in closer ties with Europe if we do not we shall be squeezed out between the United States and Russia before the middle of the century he's giving us the benefit of his political views now is he no don't underestimate him Arthur he's always been interested in foreign affairs Affairs certainly foreign on occasion that is no way to speak of your Sovereign sir I am prepared to listen to him when he tells me what what are the right clothes to wear or who sits next to whom at dinner at that he is expert so I'm to tell him that you will not consider any of his recommendations I trust you will not tell him any of this Lord Isa he's learning fast and may surprise you he good morning gentlemen it's so long since I've been here at [Music] Windsor oh look Bertie that photograph I took it of you myself at cow and that one of mamar Balmoral there he is strange it seems like something out of another age already don't be silly Toria of course it is we're in the 20th century now you know yes Mother Dear tastes have changed you know yes Mother dear well what do you think of it all I had never imagined there was so much oh look there's a picture of great grandma some of the furniture is priceless I've never really looked at it before well it's all ours now my dear I suppose it is what on Earth can we do with it let's have a look in the study [Music] I don't like it berti it doesn't feel right to come in here now I know it's as if as if we're being watched what's that it's a cast of my hand when I was a baby and she had it on her desk all this time oh berti did she never change anything it was where she first worked with my father she tried to make time to stand still what's that Queen's Highland servant John Brown yes a great job Betty clumsy on me still we'll get a better idea of what redecoration is needed when we get some of this stuff cleared away redecoration yes we're not going to live here I thought in the state departments occasionally but not here Alex no no Bertie for years as the Princess of Wales I was never allowed to do as I pleased now everyone keeps reminding me I am queen and I shall make my own decisions but some decisions are forced on us I will not sit at her table and live in her rooms we must live here and at Buckingham Palace must all my life it has been must when am I to be allowed to choose for myself no no no no be reasonable I told you about Osborne We needn't live there but Buckingham Paris and WIS are at a different matter this is my home mbra house most of our children were born here all of my memories are here malra house will be needed for Georg and may why should they have it well is their right as Prince and Princess of Wales Toria what do you say I'm afraid I agree with Papa very well I concede Windsor and Georgie shall live here thank you my but you will not force me to accept Buckingham Palace you agreed only to Windsor the palace is totally out of the question it is the principal Royal residence it is also ugly and impractical well then where are we to live in London anywhere but there we will discuss it tonight at dinner with the family I I'm sorry sir but had you forgotten that you're dining tonight with members of the cabinet tonight at your Club sir why didn't you remind me of this before Pon be I apologize my dear I wouldn't have had this happen to the world it's quite all right I fully understand you no no no my just thinking an unusual occupation for me I admit there only that I've been shut out for so long and now here I am when everything should be different still sitting behind a closed door listening to the music of a ballet that I can't see that's only to the end of official morning yes yes I was being um looking inward what's the word introspective but of course you knew that would it help to tell me I don't want to cry no you never do well it's it's a lot of things Alice this war with the BS I I want to do something positive but the government takes no notice of my opinions all I can do is to make sure that the medical supplies are stepped up well that is a great deal well maybe but it's not enough and then there's the queen I cannot persuade her that the palace must be our home in London she that objection well she finds it depressing I can understand the saying that about Osborne it's a mosum I'm giving it to the Navy as a hospital but the palace must be the center of the new court you see of course the private rooms are not very convenient and the whole place would have to be done up if you were to ask her advice about the decorations perhaps even to choose everything herself what woman could resist redesigning an entire Palace now why didn't I think of that he has perfect taste you couldn't find anybody better some uh more champagne sir thank you Charlie M is careful I eny Lou he''s still been telling a story in front of the firing squad is there something else well nothing you can help with my dear my sister VI Empress Frederick well I realize that relations with Germany are somewhat strained but why didn't she come to London for the funeral she couldn't she's dying herself oh I'm so sorry yeah she has cancer of the spine I'm going over to fick's off as soon as I can get away [Music] well Uncle Betty I have looked forward to welcoming you to Germany but not for such a distressing reason no and unfortunately I do not see that your English doctor will be of much help [Music] [Music] so you're up mama well here he is bir Blended Vicki we thought to find you in bed I've been long longing to see you now don't keep him too long mama I promised him a bore hunt this afternoon till [Music] later bir well how are you the children are they well yes all thriving and Alex never better she enjoys being Queen I was heartbroken I could not be with you yes we missed you but Willie behaved admirably he won all Hearts I hadn't realized how devoted he was to mamama he supported us all in her last hours and you are king at last in name when will you be crowned well not until after this war in over in South Africa it wouldn't be right to hold a coronation to ask my people to Rejoice while the country is not at peace I had so hoped to be there but which will be you will your doctors are confident and I brought laking with me they won't let me see him not see him you don't know what it's like here Bertie my visitors are turned away my my letters are read but sure the emperor's mother I am English I have never been accepted they don't trust me Willie nor his advisors I'm sure you're exaggerating willly has been so much more friendly lately and I think he means it yes he does today and per perhaps tomorrow maybe even next week but one day he will change he can't help it oh he was moved by Mama's funeral and being accepted as part of the family he has always longed for that yes I but you see my dear you are head of the family now he has always admired and respected you but but he cannot allow himself to be second to anyone he is the Kaiser one day he will have to open a door for you or or not sit until you sit and all his hatred and envy of England will come back worse than ever I had hoped that this time it might last I had to warn you yes thank you my dear I'll be careful things never turn out as we think do [Music] they your majesty you are wondering why I asked to see you at this hour I want you to do me a service of course ma'am it is not without danger you do not ask questions that is good but I must tell you so that you may know its importance yes ma'am for the past 40 years I have had many letters from England most of them from my mother the late Queen they were family letters not diplomatic I have kept them all I want you to take charge of them they are far too important to destroy but they must be got away from here before I die they contain many things which would not now be understood which could be used politically against your country I see in particular my son must not have them where are they mom over there behind the Cur I I did not expect so many momam that is why I could not smuggle them out can you do it I I could take them out openly with my own luggage it's it's risky but I can think of no other way good [Music] good what are these doing [Music] here P be what are these boxes doing here what is in this box boxes sir you English you have so much luggage you cannot go anywhere without all your clothes and Comforts see that they're not Left Behind come Uncle Betty [Music] it's quite B to get went on to Copenhagen to stay with Alex's father the old boy's amazing you know nearly 0 did you enjoy your visit sir well they usual you know thean B must be the dullest palace in Europe sir how dare you say that oh I forgot Francis you've never been to Baro oh Betty I wish you'd speak up I can hear what Louis says perfectly but you always Mumble sorry my sorry there's no need to to shout now everyone who wants to play bridge come along Lou shall be my partner then I can hear what he calls come along berti oh you'll have to excuse me my dear Francis and I have work to do nonsense you come and sit here Mrs careful you started before breakfast now come and behave like a human being very well Bertie you deal as you wish my de why do you want to work so hard anyway well there's a lot to catch up on and when morning ends we'll have to go out in society show ourselves it won't be much time what are we playing for whatever you like well nothing too much remember Parliament hasn't voted my money yet what do you suggest partner uh would the penny points be too much as long as the cards don't run against us how are the decorations going Mom oh perfectly perfectly we're only staying here until they're complete I see the first official ball at the palace is on the day before full morning ends yes it's a nuisance still it can't be helped I wanted to ask you what to wear mom H oh whatever you like the ladies are hoping for a directive from you are we to come out of black I'm trying to concentrate Mrs kepple you must wear what you think most suitable uh no bid one heart three no trumps [Music] where the devil's your mother something of a surprise Mrs SK my dear [Music] [Music] it's ch Charming my dear Charming it faces North but that doesn't matter I never thought these rooms could be made so pleasant your bedroom of course is through there it's ridiculous we should share a dressing room but I have some ideas yes I'm sure you have you said I could have a completely free hand come this is your yeah we do as you say well Splendid Splendid now this is your room now I feel at home already I thought we' be troubled by traffic but you can't hear anything very true very true everything you've done is perfect why don't you sit down and our rink for tea I I can't unfortunately Francis is waiting you're not going to work anymore today well it has to be done what well for example in our last illness mama left thousands of army commissions unsigned I'm not sending young men to die with a rubber stamp just for a minute oh very well very well three months at the most a Kitchener has beaten them but they won't surrender it is only a question of time but in that time more lives are lost now can't they see that it's futile to go on I've had I've had letters from Young Churchill and psen be I think I know these boys they they hang on with a kind of desperate gallantry surely they realize that we'll give them honorable terms give me a match negotiations are in hand sir well how long will they take I'm thinking of the coronation gentleman you said 3 months can I depend on that the terms of Peace will be signed by the 1st of June your majesty could be crowned to the height of the Victory celebration sir yes and the sooner the better thank you Lord soulsbury Majesty I regret I shall not be able to keep you informed personally for very much longer um in increasing ill health forces me to consider resigning in the near future I had hoped to stay on until the end of the war to be prime minister at your coronation but I must make way for a younger man we've known each other for many years I should be very sorry to L you thank you sir do you care to recommend a successor I would ask your majesty to consider Mr Baler downright nepotism sir no no Lord soulsbury your nephew is the ablest member of the cabinet thank [Music] you there now how was that that was most enjoyable SCE I've ever enjoy no stamina that's your trouble I know we get the old Skittles set up on jeez your gracious Majesty SP the Skittles i' thought I Strength even to deal a pack of cars come and sit down thank you ready Reggie you know about paintings why is he behaving like this he's trying to prove that there's nothing wrong with him what is wrong he's driven himself too hard and he's ill badly he won't tell anyone or let himself be properly examined with the coronation only two days away is there nothing we can move tell him to postpone it he's waited too long already where what do you think of Windor most impressive yes it's good to get away from London for a few days I I can't stand all that entertaining they'll be enough to do after afterwards I thought that you had come down here to rest if you show yourself everywhere well Alex likes it yeah you had to miss the review at all to shot yes yes I caught a bit of a chill Reggie you just come down how are the preparations going well the workmen have nearly finished in the abisa and they're starting to build the stands along the Route good good good the town's filling up I don't think I've ever seen London so crowded really and the the dinner everything's ready yes and we've been promised 72,000 gallons of lemonade lemonade what kind of a din is this the king's coronation dinner for the poor Louie over half a million people to be entertained to dinner on the same day at his Majesty's expense and they'll all be drinking lemonade no no no Louie no the breweries are sending a few thousand barrels of beer there they've all had their own invitations King Edward heartily bids you welcome to his coronation dinner I made the words up myself it's a day on which I don't want anyone to go without I think perhaps I should leave you no no it's perfectly all right no if you'll excuse me I think perhaps I should take a little rest before that I believe that's a good idea Mrs keple yes I can do it 40 Winks 50 well I have watch all off your feet you're not all leaving uh we thought we might rest before lunch ma ah good I'll make sure you're cold Bertie you really must not try to do so much you you put on a lot of weight and you're smoking far too heavily berti oh my darling how sent for a doctor no your own doctor laking no no it pass what is it why won't you tell me nothing there nothing nothing to be done L till mean w we have to go back to London tonight will you be able to travel yes I have to walk help me up for you Omar what is it what has happened papar is ill very ill he would not let me cancel the reception for tonight but I have forbidden him to go of course he mustn't he's very angry with me I sent for Sir Francis laking he will not let himself be [Music] examined I'm very sorry sir but I really must insist not you as well George I came to hear what s Francis has to say I have not yet yet examined his majesty what do you think it is I would rather not say until I'm certain well then to set all our minds at ease perhaps you should [Music] [Music] begin well it is what I feared sir you're suffering from P to flighters what is that it is commonly known as appendicitis an inflammation of a small tube in the intestines I'm I'm s sorry Ling I I thought it might be cancer unfortunately at the stage it has reached it is just as serious what do you mean you must have an immediate operation out of the question sir no do you realize what happens the day after tomorrow it is my duty sir damn your duty after the the coronation you can bloody well cut me in two if you want to but not till then sir I beg you to listen how the hell can you even suggest it you you do you know what I've been going through leave the the room sir I cannot I would fail in my duty I I tell you laking I will be crowned I shall go to my coronation if I die in the ABY that is exactly what will happen if you are not operated on by tomorrow it will be too late believe me sir nothing can be more certain and I do know what a postponement of the coronation will mean both to you and the country I have preparations to make do I have your permission my people will never forgive me we shall improvise an operating theater mom next to his Majesty's bedroom yes sir Frederick trees will be the surgeon and I shall assist this operation is it dangerous I want the truth it has not often been performed ma'am and not always with complete success and if it is not attempted then his majesty has no chance whatever coronation ination [Music] [Applause] foration Lean On Me I apologize to everyone there's no need all those people the coronation dinner it it mustn't be stopped whatever happens they mustn't be disappointed of course not my dearest are you still decided sir Frederick emphatically [Music] sir chlori [Music] sir why don't you begin if I might ask you to leave us far oh yes of [Music] [Music] course is [Music] this he knew it would happen he always knew it would happen secretly he's always been afraid that he would die before he was crowned don't say that Mother dear it's all over Mom and I believe successful thank [Laughter] God [Music] George I'm here father Alex morning Francis morning Charles morning my how is he today well enough to shout at his nurse I um spoke to her majesty last night she tells me she's certain he only pretends to be asleep in order not to exhaust himself trying to make her here she's delighted he's lost so much weight Majesty spends every minute she can with him one can hear her laughing all the way down the corridor well I know I prayed the first time many years I don't think I was the only one well gentlemen his majesty wishes to be crowned on the 9th of August that's too soon he's made a remarkable recovery and does not wish to wait any longer I don't think it'll be possible there wouldn't be time to get all those foreign princes back the king does not care about that he insists that the coronation and it really concerns himself and his people it also concerns his government already he's seen fit to refuse some of my suggestions for appointments and decorations well that is his privilege in the past he was unsure and reluctant to claim his right to be consulted but then he was unwell now he's fit again you'll find him a very different man to deal with if he was popular before his illness has made him much more than that if he chose to form a political party he would win every seat in the country well then it's perhaps as well that the constitution prevents his dabbling in politics I have warned you before Arthur do not underestimate him I have watched him develop given time he will prove a remarkable King well how do I look magnificent sir there's 6 Ines off the waist that helps any sign of Alex not yet sir I got your ticket for the Abbey quite safe it's a day I've been waiting for yes I hope they will be able to see all right oh don't worry sir a special box has been allocated for the Ladi well Mrs keple being looked after is she yes sir she's with Mrs Harmon lady Kil Miss Sarah burnhard Mrs padet in fact um what oh why hard you like to say come on Charlie some of the racing fraternity are calling it The King's loose box oh well why not oh where is she this is too much today of all [Music] days my dear Alex if you don't come at once you won't be crowned queen oh get on good morning children am I not a funny old [Music] grandpa the king God Save the King God Save the [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] King [Music] [Applause] [Music] King The King The King hallelujah [Music] [Applause] [Music] hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah amen amen Hallelujah [Music] [Music] hallelu

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Id: 4nb7L6uWpNQ

Length: 52min 13sec (3133 seconds)

Published: Tue Feb 11 2014