King Edward has been extremely fortunate as a yachtsman, and probably one of the events to which he most looks forward each year is the Regatta at Cowes. The King first won the Queen’s Cup, annually presented to the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes, in 1877, with his schooner Hildegarde of 198 tons. He won the Cup again in 1880 with the Formosa, cutter, of 103 tons, and again in 1895 and 1897 with the famous cutter Britannia of 151 tons.
The King as a Yachtsman
Photograph by Debenham, Cowes
The Royal Yacht Squadron, as is well known, was founded as “The Yacht Club” so far back as 1815. It early enjoyed the patronage of Royalty, among the past and present members being numbered the Prince Regent (afterwards George IV.), the Duke of Clarence (afterwards William IV.), Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, the Tsar Nicholas I., Napoleon III., the German Emperor, and Prince Henry of Prussia. The King became Commodore in 1882 on the death of Lord Wilton, and he is Commodore of nine other Royal yacht clubs, as well as President of the Yacht Racing Association.
The King generally takes the chair at the annual dinner of the Squadron held at the old castle at West Cowes, built as a fort by Henry VIII., which became the headquarters of the club in 1858. This festivity is the great event of the year for all well-known yachtsmen. There is an interesting display of plate, including the Queen’s Cup, the Nelson Vase, and the beautiful model of the Speranza, which once belonged to Lord Conyngham. His Majesty presented a few years ago twenty-one cannon to the club-house at Cowes. They were taken by him from the Royal Adelaide, the toy warship placed by William IV. to guard the artificial ocean of Virginia Water. Now they are used for firing salutes.
It need hardly be said that the King is the owner of many splendid prizes won at Cowes and elsewhere. Both His Majesty and Queen Alexandra are extremely fond of the sea, and he early made himself acquainted with the less technical side of navigation. The King is very fond of spending a certain number of days each year at Cannes, and when he is there in April he generally takes an active part in the Battle of Flowers, and he entertains large parties of his English and foreign friends on board the Britannia.