She was a key influence on royal policy.Īlice could be relied upon to keep the king in a good mood, and hosted numerous events with the Liberal Party, as a trusted advisor. She even helped the king commission a set of Faberge animals for Alexandra, knowing that she collected them, and often picked out lovely gifts for the Queen. Alice was discreet about her relationship with the king and was known for smoothing out his erratic behavior. Unlike Princess Diana, who felt that her marriage was "crowded with the three of us," the Queen Consort found Alice to be helpful, and greatly preferred her to the king's previous mistress, Daisy Warwick. Keystone // Getty Images The Queen Consort Alexandra of Denmark and Alice Keppel were allies. Queen Consort Alexandra on the king’s coronation day. They stayed together for twelve years, through his coronation as King Edward VII until his death in 1910. The money and connections allowed her to thrive as a society hostess, which is how she met Prince Albert Edward in 1898 when he was 56 and she was 29. When Alice and George moved to London, they were part of the city's top social circles and Alice began having affairs in order to move up the social ladder. She resembled a Christmas tree laden with presents for everyone," her daughter Violet said. She not only had a gift of happiness, but she excelled in making others happy. She was a renowned beauty with chestnut hair, a pale complexion, large blue eyes, a small waist, and a large chest-all features that were greatly coveted in "the naughties nineties." Alice was also known for being an exceptionally kind person, even to her enemies. She grew up in Duntreath Castle in Scotland and married Lieutenant-Colonel George Keppel, a British Royal officer, at 23. Hulton Archive // Getty Images Alice Keppel was the toast of Edwardian society.Īlice Frederica Edmonstone, who went by the nickname Freddie (or even, "flirtatious Freddie") was born into a high-ranking family in 1868: her father was a Baronet and an admiral in the Royal Navy. The Hon George Keppel with his wife Mrs Alice Keppel and their daughter Violet Trefusis at a race meeting.
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