Edwardian Opulence

King Edward VII only reigned for 9 years but the Edwardian era (1901 - 1914) saw momentous changes during and immediately after his reign. A generation of young men were lost during WWI, the old class hierarchy and domestic life "upstairs and downstairs" began to disappear, women were campaigning vigorously for the right to vote and there was a huge building boom in London.

However, the wealth divide remained stubbornly huge and the latest exhibition at the King's Gallery illustrates this with a look at the opulence and glamour of the Edwardian age through the lives and tastes of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (1901 - 1910) and King George V and Queen Mary (1910 to 1935). See works by Carl Faberge, William Morris and John Singer Sargent from the Royal Collection as well as stunning portraits of the Royals in all their finery. The exhibition covers the period 1863 (Edward and Alexandra's wedding) to 1918 when WWI ended. This gallery is one of my favourites, tucked away next to Buckingham Palace, it is both intimate and accessible. You can get a one year pass which makes the £19 entry price very reasonable!