Prince of Wales
Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-09 Diary Coverage: Up to April 19, 1875
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1841-1910), later King Edward VII of England. Son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Marie becomes obsessed with him after seeing him at the theater in Nice in March 1875.
Key Events in Diary
- March 31, 1875: Prince attends theater in Nice, Marie sees him
- April 4, 1875: Marie writes anonymous letter requesting his portrait
- April 11, 1875: Marie attends Anglican service, prays for the Prince three times
- April 14, 1875: Names her dress "Archiduc" in memory of the Prince and the operetta
Marie's Obsession
Marie writes an anonymous letter to the Prince staying at Hotel de Luxembourg in Nice, asking for his signed portrait. She signs it "Eides et spes" and uses the pseudonym "11 B.E." at the Nice post office.
She reverses his name as "ecnirp ed sellag" showing her playful linguistic habits. Dreams about him frequently and considers him one of her romantic ideals alongside Hamilton and Johnstone.
Historical Context
The Prince of Wales was known for his pleasure-seeking lifestyle and was involved in various scandals including the Mordaunt divorce case that Marie reads about with fascination.
Related People
- Duke of Hamilton (Marie's primary obsession)
- Sir Frederic Johnstone (involved in Mordaunt scandal)
- Lady Mordaunt (scandal figure)