THE NEW KING ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER EDWARD VII GEORGE V (1865-1936, King of Great Britain) and Edward GREY (1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon, 1862-1933, Liberal Statesman, Longest Serving Foreign Secretary 1905-1916, Ornithologist)

Finely clerk written document signed at the foot, countersigned by Edward GREYaddressed to the President of the Republic of Cuba, José Miguel GÓMEZ (1858-1921, Cuban Politician and Revolutionary, leader of the Rebel Forces in the Cuban War of Independence, President from 1909 to 1913) sending greetings to "Our Good Friend! It is with the deepest affliction that We announce to You the decease of Our Most Honoured and Beloved Father, His Majesty King Edward VII of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, of Blessed Memory, whom it pleased God to call from this world on the evening of the sixth ultimo, at a quarter to twelve o'clock, in the Tenth Year of His Reign. We communicate to You this mournful event, feeling convinced that you will participate in Our grief and in that of all Our subjects, for the loss of a Sovereign so justly esteemed and revered. In acquainting you at the same time with Our Accession to the Throne. We assure You that it will ever be Our most earnest desire to cultivate and to maintain the relations of Friendship and good understanding which so happily subsist between the two Countries, and that it will always affords Us the greatest pleasure to have fresh opportunity of proving the interest which We take in the welfare and prosperity of the Republic of Cuba. And so We commend you to the protection of the Almighty ...", 3 sides folio on black edged paper, Court at Saint James's, 20th June lacking the black edging on the top side, the signatures somewhat faded

Edward habitually smoked twenty cigarettes and twelve cigars a day. In 1907, a rodent ulcer, a type of cancer affecting the skin next to his nose, was cured with radium. Towards the end of his life he increasingly suffered from bronchitis. In March 1910, he was staying at Biarritz when he collapsed. He remained there to convalesce, while in London Asquith tried to get the Finance Bill passed. The king's continued ill health was unreported, and he attracted criticism for staying in France while political tensions were so high. On 27th April he returned to Buckingham Palace, still suffering from severe bronchitis. Alexandra returned from visiting her brother, George I of Greece, in Corfu a week later on 5th May. On 6th May, Edward suffered several heart attacks, but refused to go to bed, saying, "No, I shall not give in; I shall go on; I shall work to the end." Between moments of faintness, his son the Prince of Wales (shortly to be King George V) told him that his horse, Witch of the Air, had won at Kempton Park that afternoon. The king replied, "Yes, I have heard of it. I am very glad": his final words. At 11:30 p.m. he lost consciousness for the last time and was put to bed. He died 15 minutes later.
George V had an excellent relationship with his father. Observers described Edward VII and George V more as affectionate brothers than as father and son. When his father died, George V confided to his diary that he had lost his "best friend and the best of fathers." He wrote that he "never had a [cross] word with him in my life. I am heart-broken and overwhelmed with grief."
José Miguel Gómez y Arias was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was one of the leaders of the rebel forces in the Cuban War of Independence. He later served as President of Cuba from 1909 to 1913.


Item Date:  1910

Stock No:  41606      £1750

             Add to Wish List     Order/Enquire


GEORGE-V-41606-1.jpg GEORGE-V-41606-2.jpg
GEORGE-V-41606-3.jpg

<< Back

HyperLink      HyperLink      ABOUT SOPHIE   |   CONTACT SOPHIE   |   TERMS & CONDITIONS     
      HyperLink