William VII of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox royalty
| name          = William VII and III
| title          =
| image          = Smaller.jpg


| image_size    = Medium
| succession  = {{wp|King of the United Kingdom}} and the {{wp|British Dominions}}
| moretext    = ({{wp|Style of the British sovereign#Styles of British sovereigns|more...}})
| reign        = 30 January 1913 - 5 January 1923
| reign-type  = Reign
| coronation  = 5 March 1913
| cor-type    = Coronation
| predecessor  = [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Willliam VI and II]]
| pre-type    = Predecessor
| regent      = {{list collapsed|title=''See list''|1={{wp|H. H. Asquith}}<br>{{wp|David Lloyd George}}<br>{{wp|Bonar Law}}}}
| reg-type    = {{nowrap|{{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Ministers}}}}
| successor    = [[Frederick of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Frederick]]
| suc-type    =
| succession1  = {{wp|Emperor of India}}
| moretext1    =
| reign1      = 30 January 1913 - 5 January 1923
| reign-type1  = Reign
| coronation1  = 8 August 1913
| cor-type1    = {{wp|Imperial Durbar}}
| predecessor1 = [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Willliam VI and II]]
| pre-type1    =
| regent1      =
| reg-type1    =
| successor1  = [[Frederick of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Frederick]]
| suc-type1    =
| succession2  = {{wp|King of Hanover}}
| moretext2    =
| reign2      = 30 January 1913 - 5 January 1923
| reign-type2  = Reign
| coronation2  = 5 March 1913
| cor-type2    =
| predecessor2 = [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Willliam VI and II]]
| pre-type2    = Predecessor
| regent2      =
| reg-type2    =
| successor2  = [[Frederick of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Frederick]]
| suc-type2    =
| succession3  = {{wp|King of the Netherlands}}<br/>{{wp|Grand Duke of Luxembourg}}<br/>{{wp|Duke of Limburg}}
| moretext3    =
| reign3      = 30 January 1913 - 5 January 1923
| reign-type3  = Reign
| coronation3  = 1 January 1914
| cor-type3    = Inauguration
| predecessor3 = {{wp|Henry, King of the Netherlands and of Hanover|Henry}}
| pre-type3    = Predecessor
| regent3      =
| reg-type3    =
| successor3  = [[Frederick of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Frederick]]
| suc-type3    =
| reg-type4    = Prime Minister
| successor4  = {{wp|Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey|The Earl Grey}}
| suc-type4    = Succeeded by
| succession4  = {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}}
| moretext4    =
| reign4      = 23 October 1883 - 5 March 1900
| reign-type4  = In office
| coronation4  = [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Willliam VI and II]]
| cor-type4    = Monarch
| predecessor4 = {{wp|The Marquess of Lorne}}
| pre-type4    = Preceded by
| regent4      = {{plainlist|
* {{wp|John A. Macdonald}}<br/>{{wp|Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott|John Abbot}}<br/>{{wp|John Sparrow David Thompson|John Thompson}}<br/>{{wp|Mackenzie Bowell}}<br/>{{wp|Charles Tupper}}<br/>{{wp|Wilfrid Laurier}} ({{wp|Prime Minister of Canada|Canadian}})
* {{wp|William Ewart Gladstone}}<br/>{{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury}}<br/>{{wp|Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery|The Earl of Rosebery}}<br/>({{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British}})
}}
| birth_name    =
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1862|1|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = {{wp|Buckingham Palace}}, {{wp|London}}
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1923|1|5|1862|1|3|df=yes}}
| death_place  = {{wp|Rideau Hall}}, {{wp|Ottawa}}, {{wp|Canada}}
| burial_date  = 20 January 1923
| burial_place = [[William and Sophia Memorial]], {{wp|Ottawa}}, {{wp|Canada}}
| spouse      = {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia}} <br/>{{small|(1881 - 1886, engaged)}}<br/>{{marriage|{{wp|Sophia of Prussia}}|22 August 1887}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|* [[Frederick of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Frederick]]
* [[Alexandra, Princess Royal|Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Uppland]]
* [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]]
* [[Henrietta, Hereditary Princess of Denmark]]}}
| issue-link  = #Issue
| full name      = William Arthur Leopold Frederick
| house          = {{wp|House of Hanover|Hanover}}
| father        = [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Willliam VI and II]]
| mother        = {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia}}
| religion      = {{wp|Protestantism|Protestant}}
| module      = {{Infobox officeholder | embed=yes
  | branch        = {{plainlist|
*{{army|United Kingdom}}}}
  | serviceyears  = 1882-1883 (active service)
  | servicenumber = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records -->
  | unit          = [[The King's Abyssinian Regiment]]
  | commands      =
  | rank          = {{wp|Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier}}
  | battles_label =
  | battles      = {{wp|Mahdist War}}}}
}}
'''William VII and III''' (William Arthur Leopold Frederick; 3 January 1862 - 5 January 1923) was {{wp|King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}}, {{wp|King of Hanover}} and {{wp|Emperor of India}} from 30 January 1913 until 5 January 1923. He was also {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}} from 1883 until 1900, being the first and only {{wp|British}} prince to do so, while also being the longest-serving officeholder in that position, for which he was highly regarded by {{wp|Canadians}} for his state-building efforts and his exceptionally liberal approach towards issues surrounding the {{wp|Canada|country}}. The [[William VII and III National Hockey Championships]], an annual hockey tournament, alongside several educational institutions, parks, roads, and a [[William and Sophia Memorial|memorial]] all bore his name. In 1891, as {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}}, William helped laid the foundation of the {{wp|Canadian}} {{wp|Red Cross}}, of which he was then chosen as its first secretary-general, in which capacity he oversaw its operations during the {{wp|Second Boer War}}.
Known primarily for his feats during his almost half-a century-long tenure as {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}}, his reign however which was among the shortest in {{wp|British}} history was marked by little active involvement as monarch in contrast to his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|predecessor]], aside from the {{wp|First World War}} and the first few years of the {{wp|Roaring Twenties}}, until his death in 1923. Following his death, William was initially given the epithet of ''Builder King''  for his part in developing {{wp|Canada}} but this was promptly renamed to ''Grand Prince of Canada'', as to avoid associating him with the notorious {{wp|Leopold II of Belgium|King Leopold II}} of {{wp|Belgium}}, whom William himself personally resented for the latter's brutality in his administration of the {{wp|Congo Free State}}.
For fifty-one years long, he is to date the second longest serving {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}} behind {{wp|William IV}}, whom was {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}} himself for fifty-eight years long. On the other hand, William is the most recent {{wp|British}} monarch to have been born in the {{wp|United Kingdom}}.
==Early Life==
William was born on January 3rd 1862 as the second child of [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Willliam VI and II]] and {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Queen Louise}}. His birth, which succeeded that of his stillborn brother of the same name proved to be a great miracle and joy, in particular to his mother whom had been devastated by the loss of her previous son the year before. Almost immediately, he was made {{wp|Prince of Wales}} as the first in line of succession to the throne and was honorably given the surnames "Leopold Frederick" in honour of his maternal grandfather {{wp|Leopold I of Belgium}}, whom he greatly came to mirror in terms of appearance and the {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Prussian prince Frederick, later Kaiser Frederick III}}, whom had been a good and close friend of his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]] due to their shared views.
Despite initial suggestions concerning his preferred upbringing, a young William was fully left under the control of his loving, and liberal minded mother while his father [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|William]] maintained nominal influence, going so far as to only educating the future king on war and the military. Eventually, though he was able to meet the expected standards of a "soldier king" as dreamed by his father, William however took more of a liking into liberal arts which resulted in promising success, mostly at the joy of his enthusiastic {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|mother}}. At the same time, he also drew partial inspiration from his like-minded aunt [[Alice, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn|Alice]], whose determined attitude in the cause of female empowerment proved revolutionary during the times of increasing liberalism in Britain.
===William & Alexandrovna===
[[File:Maria Alexandrovna by Winterhalter (1857, Hermitage) 2.jpg|200px|thumb|left|{{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna}} of {{wp|Russian Empire|Russia}}, William's mother figure and wife of {{wp|Alexander II of Russia|Tsar Alexander II of Russia}}]]
Despite being generally on good terms and close with his own family, particularly with his mother, {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Queen Louise}}, William nevertheless began to saw the then estranged {{wp|Russian}} {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna}} as his own mother figure, when on the insistence of William's father, [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King Willliam VI and II]], whom sympathised with {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna}}'s grievances, the empress began to unofficially act as a caretaker for the young William at occasional times, even in his own mother's presence. Though this new arrangement created some expected degree of a rift between {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna}} and {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Louise}}, it was through the former that a young William was able to learn the {{wp|Russian}} language from, leading to subsequently mutual feelings of appreciation and love for one another.
Beginning from the age of two, the prince, with his parents' consent would often travel back and forth to {{wp|Herrenhausen Palace}} alongside {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna}} as the latter had deemed the {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanoverian}} royal residence to be more fitting for her recovery against a grieving illness. Nevertheless, while residing in the palace, the two would reportedly venture around the city streets incognito, overseeing daily businesses.  Furthermore, much to the chagrin of William's own parents, the prince would at times follow the empress back to {{wp|Russian Empire|Russia}} where he was subsequently introduced to the {{wp|Russian}} royal family, consisting of the {{wp|Alexander II of Russia|Tsar of Russia}} and their six surviving children, all of whom William later came to regard warmly in his memoirs. Even so, due to preexisting limitations, William would also at times be separated from the {{wp|Russian}} empress, during which he would often write letters wishing for her recovery alongside rounds of gifts for the empress. Later on, in the year 1880, William himself was present alongside {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna}}'s {{wp|Russian}} family surrounding the empress in her final moments.
Evidently, the rather turbulent marital life of the late {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna}} did much to shape some aspects of William's own marital life in the future, for unlike his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]] whom took approximately two mistresses in total while married to his wife, {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Queen Louise}}, he otherwise strictly detested such a practice and was said to have also informally "criminalised" it, arguing that "none shall suffer any longer like my mother {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna}}", in an allusion to the late {{wp|Russian}} empress. Furthermore, much like {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna}} herself whom had been a founding member of the {{wp|Russian}} Red Cross, William himself also became a founding member of the {{wp|Canadian}} Red Cross while also serving as {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}}. Meanwhile, on a much more personal level, William was said to have largely disliked the {{wp|Russian}} {{wp|Alexander II of Russia|Tsar Alexander II}}, whom the prince reportedly blamed for the empress's ailing condition and subsequent death, believing that the {{wp|Alexander II of Russia|Tsar}}'s blatant infidelity had been the cause of the late empress's demise. 
==''Prince of Wales''==
Upon reaching the age of majority, William, whom was then said to be immensely distraught following the death of the {{wp|Russian}} {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna}}, was promptly sent to {{wp|German Empire|Germany}} to live with his {{wp|German}} relatives whilst undertaking military lessons, as it was expected by William's father. During his lengthy stay in {{wp|German Empire|Germany}}, William was quick familiarise himself with the prevalent militaristic culture in the country, and was generally and personally close with the {{wp|German}} princely family, due to his own relation to {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}}'s wife, {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Crown Princess Victoria}}, William's second cousin through a shared great-grandfather, {{wp|William IV and I of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King William IV and I}}.
===Mahdist War===
Following his return to {{wp|Britain}}, with a promising military education at hand, coupled with a gradual decline in his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]]'s own involvement in military campaigns, William was widely seen by many as a natural successor to his father's militaristic legacy. However, paradoxically, William himself was said to had considerably detested military appointments, having preferred spending his time more in what he referred to as "nonviolent activities". Nevertheless, under pressure from some of the {{wp|British Army}}'s leading officers, coupled with his own prior scandal involving a relationship with notable {{wp|British}} socialite, {{wp|Lillie Langtry}}, William reluctantly took a commission alongside several other {{wp|British}} officers hired to command the local {{wp|Egyptian}} army by the {{wp|Tewfik Pasha|Khedive of Egypt}} against {{wp|Mahdist State|Mahdist Sudanese}} forces of {{wp|Muhammad Ahmad}}.
Upon his arrival in {{wp|Khedivate of Egypt}} on February 1882, which had then recently underwent an armed insurrection by {{wp|Ahmed 'Urabi}}, a disgruntled {{wp|Egyptian}} army officer, William was initially provided with a measly force of 2000 men strong, consisted largely of local {{wp|Egyptian}} soldiers whom were generally described as being "considerably unruly and lenient against the enemy". A few days later, having reached the city of {{wp|Minya, Egypt|Minya}}, William had his men extensively drilled in warfare tactics whilst awaiting reinforcements in the form of the elite [[The King's Abyssinian Regiment|Abyssinian Regiment]]. Subsequently, {{wp|British}} forces under the ''Prince of Wales'', now numbering around 3,500 men strong first entered {{wp|Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Sudan}} via the coastal city of {{wp|Suakin}} before proceeding further inwards where just three days later, they were met by a larger force of 10,000 men under the central leadership of {{wp|Muhammad Ahmad}}, whom had prior resisted initial attempts to neutralise him. In what would be William's first military encounter against the {{wp|Sudanese}} religious leader, the former decisively prevailed against the latter's warriors, having inflicted considerable casualties while retaining his own. Nevertheless, the two sides fought once more when the {{wp|Mahdist State|Mahdists}} in turn sieged the city a few days later, though this attempt was also repulsed, with the prince himself reportedly being close enough at one point to land a fatal blow against {{wp|Muhammad Ahmad}} himself. As a result of his military proficiency, William was momentarily kept in {{wp|Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Sudan}} for a while until he was ultimately recalled back to {{wp|Europe}} in around mid-June.
===Anglo-German Rivalry===
Despite being the brother-in-law of {{wp|Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Kaiser Wilhelm II}}, both men found themselves at odds over their contrasting policies and views. Ironically, while William inhibited some sense of {{wp|Germanophile}}, the Kaiser however possessed a strong sense of {{wp|Anglophobia}}, made evident in his rivalry against William's father, the reigning [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King Willliam VI and II]]. Nevertheless, with the help of his aunt, [[Alice, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn|Princess Alice]], the prince sought extensively to regulate relations between the two nations. As William's character, similar to that of his younger brother, [[Alexander, Prince Consort of the Netherlands|Alexander]], grew more in an opposing nature to their father's military conducts, William regularly sought refuge in neutral countries such as the {{wp|Netherlands}}, the {{wp|Scandinavia|Scandinavian}} kingdoms and his mother's home country of {{wp|Belgium}} where for a period of several months, he privately accommodated his sickly {{wp|Louise of Belgium|mother}}, resulting in an unyielding familial bond between the two.
Despite the growing hostility between the two empires, William himself remained partially sympathetic to the {{wp|German Empire}}, with the former having allegedly traveled incognito to the country on several occasions as to personally inspect {{wp|German}} army facilities, and at times engaging in conversations with several high-ranking officers of the {{wp|German Army (German Empire)|Imperial German Army}}, with the {{wp|German}} {{wp|German General Staff|Chief of the General Staff}} {{wp|Helmuth von Motlke the Elder|Moltke the Elder}} in particular later writing of him as a "calm, sensible, and courteous young prince and general".
===Governor-General of Canada===
Despite his reluctance, the {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}} was offered once more an administrative position which came about in the light of retirement of the {{wp|John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll|9th Duke of Argyll}} from his office of {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}}. Once more, William proved reluctant for an overseas commitment but with the considerably calm and peaceful landscape of {{wp|Canada}}, added with the persuasion of his own mother {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Louise}} to relocate to the country, William finally accepted the offer and departed for {{wp|Canada}} alongside his {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|wife}}. In his twenty seven years long tenure as {{wp|Governor-General of Canada|Governor-General}}, William sought and successfully introduced immense "liberalisation" of {{wp|Canadian}} politics, economy and infrastructure which coincided with the declining influence of the {{wp|Francophone|Francophones}} in the {{wp|British}} {{wp|Canada|dominion}}. In addition, despite initial skepticism, the royal couple was well-received and welcomed for their outspoken generosity and liberal lifestyle, with {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Princess Sophia}} in particular being extremely fond of the game of hockey.
Despite the short term {{wp|North-West Rebellion}} crisis, in which William himself had personally partook, the royal couple's popularity remained consistently and unprecedentedly high, made evident by a suggestion in the year 1900 when the {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}} was reportedly recommended by a few {{wp|Canadian}} officials to become the hypothetical head of state of an independent {{wp|Canada}}, due to the prince's apparent opposition to the controversial {{wp|Second Boer War}}, although this soon brought him into conflict with then-{{wp|Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister}} {{wp|Wilfrid Laurier}}, whom was otherwise able to appease both the anti-war and pro-war parties in the conflict. Nonetheless, in a private letter penned by William himself to then-{{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}} {{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury|Lord Salisbury}}, he wrote, ''"Almost two centuries ago, religious dogmatism has led our ancestors into a devastating and a truly bloody war indeed. Perhaps now, almost two centuries later, we are to be led into another war with our fellow {{wp|European}} brothers, this time not by religious dogma, but rather by the pursuit of wealth. God forbid that we shall destroy ourselves from within because of this"''.
The prince, whom was well informed of the effectiveness of railways, as demonstrated in the {{wp|Franco-Prussian War}} in 1870, went on to pioneer the construction of railways throughout {{wp|Canada}}, while also personally spearheading the establishment of a large number of public and private institutions, with the {{wp|Prince William and Princess Sophia University}} particularly named in the couple's honour. Meanwhile, he also led the foundation of the very first national-level scholarships for eligible {{wp|Canadian}} students. Around March 1884, he was granted a private audience with the {{wp|Pope}} in {{wp|Rome}}, {{wp|Pope Leo XIII|Leo XIII}}, becoming the first {{wp|British}} monarch to ever visit the {{wp|Catholicism|Catholic}} holy city since {{wp|Kingdom of England|England}}'s breakaway in 1534 under {{wp|Henry VIII|King Henry VIII}}. He later wrote greatly of the {{wp|Pope Leo XIII|Pope}} in his writings, having commended the {{wp|Christian}} spiritual leader for "his acute sense of modernity and his ability to grasp onto the changing times".
On March 1888, William became the first {{wp|British}} and {{wp|European}} royal to visit the emerging {{wp|Asian}} country of {{wp|Empire of Japan|Japan}}. The prince, whom had done so on the invitation of the {{wp|Japanese}} {{wp|Emperor Meiji}}, was received by {{wp|Japanese}} officials at the coastal city of {{wp|Yokohama}} where from there, he embarked on a long nationwide tour comprising {{wp|Empire of Japan|Japan}}'s urban and rural areas, whilst accompanied by the {{wp|Emperor Meiji|Emperor}} himself. After a lengthy audience with the {{wp|Japanese}} {{wp|Imperial House of Japan|imperial family}}, William was then exclusively allowed to oversaw a training session of an {{wp|Imperial Japanese Army}} regiment. In his later memoirs, William wrote positively of the {{wp|Imperial Japanese Army|IJA}}'s military capabilities, in which he equated the recently modernised and emerging {{wp|Japanese}} {{wp|Imperial Japanese Army|army}} to that of the {{wp|German Army (German Empire)|German Army}} in {{wp|Europe}}, which was at the time the leading example of a modern military. At the same time, William also paid a brief visit to the {{wp|Chinese}} capital city of {{wp|Beijing|Peking}}, where he met the {{wp|Guangxu Emperor}}, and briefly toured factories in eastern {{wp|Qing dynasty|China}} himself before returning back to {{wp|Empire of Japan|Japan}}, from where the prince subsequently departed back for the {{wp|United Kingdom}} from the city of {{wp|Yokohama}}. His visit, which was said to had been of a positive nature in the emerging {{wp|Asian}} country, was later reciprocated with a visit to the {{wp|United Kingdom}} in 1901 by a twenty two year old {{wp|Emperor Taishō|Crown Prince Yoshihito}} (later {{wp|Emperor Taishō}}), whom William reportedly befriended during the crown prince's visit to the country.
==Reign==
On January 30th 1913, just twenty-five days after the wedding of his eldest son, [[Frederick of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Frederick]] to the {{wp|German}} {{wp|Victoria Louise of Prussia|Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia}}, his own father, [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King Willliam VI and II]] passed away surrounded by his close family members. For William himself, just a few days prior to the king's death, he had already returned to {{wp|Canada}}, as it was his custom, soon after the wedding. Nevertheless, he reluctantly returned to {{wp|London}} as his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]]'s illness began to become more significantly apparent. Thus, following the latter's death, William was immediately declared the new ''King of the United Kingdom'', with his eldest son as the heir apparent.
===First World War===
While the first year of his reign was generally uneventful, his reign however was soon marked by the beginning of the {{wp|First World War}} when {{wp|Austria-Hungary}}, with the intent of avenging the death of its fallen crown prince, declared war on the {{wp|Kingdom of Serbia}}, prompting a counter {{wp|Russian}} and {{wp|French}} declaration of war against the {{wp|Austrians}} and their {{wp|German}} ally. Just two months later, the {{wp|United Kingdom}} itself formally entered the war on the pretext of {{wp|German}} violation of {{wp|Belgian}} neutrality.
During the the war, while most of the direct military engagements between {{wp|Britain}} and its {{wp|German}} enemy occurred strictly on the {{wp|European}} mainland, the island itself underwent a lengthy period of aerial {{wp|German}} bombardment through the use of {{wp|zeppelin}} airships. On a personal scale at least, while the aerial {{wp|German}} bombardment proved inconsequential in regards to the new king's life, it was reportedly believed to have been a cause of stress for the newly crowned William VII and III, whom once notably wrote, ''"I am perhaps the most unluckiest crown prince in all of {{wp|Europe}} after the late {{wp|Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|Franz Ferdinand}}, for my worst fear of being a sovereign during a time of such wretched conflicts and wars have finally came about"''.
===Interwar Years===
With {{wp|German Empire|Germany}}'s surrender on November 11th 1918, William, amidst suffering an initially mild illness at the time, immediately began a vigorous effort in restoring the prestige and image of the {{wp|British}} {{wp|House of Hanover}} which, through the scheming of his late [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]], had been closely tied to the now deposed {{wp|House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollern}} royal family. For instance, upon learning of his {{wp|Wilhelm II, German Emperor|brother-in-law}}'s escape to the {{wp|Netherlands}} following his abdication, William promptly enlisted the help of his brother, the [[Alexander, Prince Consort of the Netherlands|Prince Consort of the Netherlands]] to help coerce the former Kaiser into agreeing towards voluntarily surrendering himself to the victorious {{wp|Triple Entente|Entente}} leaders in order to stand trial at the international courts. However, this effort was promptly cut short when his sister-in-law, {{wp|Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina}} whom, as the {{wp|Dutch}} monarch, refused to follow-up on the effort herself. Nevertheless, until his death several years later, William consistently remained a fierce critic of the former {{wp|Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Kaiser}}, and was particularly noted for having "informally" prohibited the usage of the name ''William'' for later heir apparents, in which he declared, ''"From this point on, the name William, or Wilhelm must never be the name of any Kings of Britain anymore, for the names of this nation's kings and queens from now on will never live on in infamy"''. While this informal prohibition was welcomed and seen by many as a symbolic and patriotic gesture at the time, it was ultimately broken with the birth of his great-grandson, [[William VI of the United Kingdom|Prince William of Cambridge]] (later William VI) on December 1950.
In the remaining years of his reign, William largely concentrated his efforts on aiding a post-war {{wp|Britain}} through the provisions of financial aid, whilst spending most of his time in {{wp|Canada}}, which had long been his preferred country of residence, rather than in the {{wp|United Kingdom}}.
==Death==
Throughout the last remaining years of his life, William consistently suffered from bouts of illnesses, initially proven to be less of a concern to doctors and alike, before gradually worsening over time. During the subsequent diagnosis, aside from the noticeable amount of stress and fatigue he inherited from his early years as king, his decision to concurrently take up smoking (a habit he had consistently opposed to in the past), presumably as a short-term relief for his longstanding grievances, was also cited by doctors to had been the primary causes for his worsening illness. Ultimately, despite routine medical examinations leading up to his death, no official statement confirming the cause of his death was ever published, while rumours of a supposed foul play were quickly suppressed, due to the lack of any substantial evidence.
On January 5th 1923, William passed away in the presence of his closest family members while residing in {{wp|Rideau Hall}}, located in the {{wp|Canadian}} capital city of {{wp|Ottawa}}. As per a will written prior to his death, he was subsequently buried in a specially-made memorial in {{wp|Ottawa}} itself, as to solidify his popular image and respect held among the local {{wp|Canadian}} populace. His own wife, {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Queen Sophie}}, was also buried at the memorial several years later, thereby alluding to the memorial's name, ''William and Sophia Memorial''.
==Marriage==
In line with his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]]'s vision, William's potential spouse was to be from the {{wp|House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollerns}} of {{wp|German Empire|Germany}} in order to strengthen the personal bond of friendship between his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]] and {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}} of the {{wp|German Empire}}, although the suggestion itself was not widely supported by both the {{wp|British}} public and government. Furthermore, William's mother, {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Queen Louise}} had instead suggested a possible union between her son and with that of her niece, {{wp|Princess Stéphanie of Belgium}} in order to further {{wp|Anglo}}-{{wp|Belgian}} relations instead, but this was promptly rejected. Undeterred, the queen consort subsequently proposed a union with the sixteen year old {{wp|Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine (1864–1918)|daughter}} of the {{wp|Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse|Grand Duke of Hesse}}, Princess Elisabeth, which received initial traction due to the renowned beauty of the young princess, but prospects of it were ultimately ended, due to [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|William]]'s strong insistence on bettering relations with the new {{wp|German Empire}}. A suggestion for the prince to marry one of his {{wp|English}} relatives was also proposed, namely by {{wp|William Ewart Gladstone}}, the newly appointed {{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister}}. Regardless, the king went ahead with his plans, informing {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}} of his plans in which he wrote, ''"Georgie would very much prefer either one of your lovely daughters for the sake of our lasting friendship"''.
===Engagement===
[[File:Maria Alexandrovna of Russia duchess of Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|right|{{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia}}, whom William was initially engaged to prior to his marriage]]
Upon his arrival in {{wp|German Empire|Germany}} in 1880, William was quick to familiarise himself with the foreign {{wp|German}} court. As the second cousin of {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Crown Princess Victoria}}, the young William was quick to bond with the latter and her family, consisting that of {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}} whom William greatly admired as a father-like figure and their six surviving children. In line with his designated purpose, William became rather quickly acquainted with Frederick's daughters and was initially recommended with the eldest of them all, {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia|Louise}} whose illness however nullified any prospects of a marriage. Undeterred, William began expressing a degree of consideration in marrying the second eldest daughter of the {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|German Crown Prince}}, {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Princess Viktoria}} but this soon changed upon his acquaintance with {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}}, the third eldest of the group. Though {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}} was evidently much younger compared to her peers, she was spared from the problems faced by her elder sisters that had rendered them unsuitable for William. With the encouragement of both of their parents, William and {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}} were quick to familiarise themselves. However, as Sophia herself was then too young for marriage, William was encouraged to reluctantly wait for seven more years when the princess was to become of age herself.
Upon his return, William found solace in a brief, three months long relationship with {{wp|British}} socialite, {{wp|Lillie Langtry}}, whom he had met at a private upper-class party. However, the affair was cut short by the intervention of the [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King]] who subsequently paid {{wp|Lillie Langtry|Langtry}} a sum of £3,500 to buy her silence, following allegations of a pregnancy, which the latter herself then denied, claiming that William was in fact not the actual father. Following this debacle, William was promptly commissioned to {{wp|Sudan}} where he remarkably excelled in his encounters against the {{wp|Sudanese}} religious leader, {{wp|Muhammad Ahmad}}. Soon after, he was summoned back to {{wp|Berlin}} where an unexpected, hasty engagement had been arranged between the prince and {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}}'s sister, {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Viktoria}}, as a way to deter him from further potential liaisons. Reportedly, while the ''Prince of Wales'' agreed to an engagement as a way to deter any unwelcomed romantic affairs, he otherwise demanded to be engaged to someone else, namely {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia}}, daughter of the late {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia}}, whose name the grand duchess had inherited.
[[File:Lilly Langtry, 1885.jpg|thumb|left|{{wp|Lillie Langtry}}, an {{wp|English}} actress whom was briefly the mistress of the ''Prince of Wales'']]
The prince's aforementioned suggestion, whilst being perceived as slightly offensive to the {{wp|German}} royal couple, whom were generally on good terms with the former himself, also received great scrutiny from both the {{wp|British}} and {{wp|Russian}} governments due to the state of animosity between them arising from geopolitical interest. Nevertheless, on approximately June 1st 1881, William departed for {{wp|Russian Empire|Russia}} where he was received by the new {{wp|Russian}} {{wp|Emperor of all the Russias|Tsar}}, {{wp|Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III}}. Upon his arrival, William wasted no time in acquainting himself with the {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|grand duchess}}, with whom he first deliberated with on the possibility of an engagement between them. Almost immediately, the strong-willed {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Maria Alexandrovna}}, whom upon learning that she was only intended to be engaged to and not to marry the prince in the end, initially refused such an arrangement. However, prospects of a peaceful settlement between both the {{wp|British}} and {{wp|Russian}} empires emanating from the engagement ultimately compelled the former to accept the prince's offer. Their sudden engagement, which had only occurred within a span of a few hours after William's arrival in the {{wp|Russian}} capital was promptly pubilcised by {{wp|Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III}}, whom hailed it as a "diplomatic victory" for his country, although the Tsar himself had no prior knowledge of the arrangement. While in the {{wp|United Kingdom}}, [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King Willliam VI and II]], despite being somewhat personally anxious regarding the hypothetical conclusion of his son's sudden engagement, nevertheless accepted the arrangement, even going so far as to later greet the royal couple on their return to {{wp|England}}.
Having opted on distancing himself and his fiancee from the general public, William, along with {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Maria Alexandrovna}} took up residence in {{wp|Windsor Castle}} where they were said to have enjoyed themselves "to the fullest extent". A fluent {{wp|Russian}} speaker himself, both William and {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Maria Alexandrovna}} would often switch on a daily basis between the three languages of {{wp|English}}, {{wp|German}}, and {{wp|Russian}} whenever they converse with each other publicly. As one particular royal staff noted, ''"The prospect of being ultimately forbidden to marry each other never seemed to bother either of them. They were themselves, and they are enjoying it for as long as they could"''. In addition to their mutual proficiency in several languages and some other forms of common interest, the two generally bonded over the death of the late {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Empress Maria Alexandrovna}}, whom both William and {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Maria Alexandrovna}} were close to on a personal level.
Around June 1882, to the surprise of observers, as William departed for {{wp|Empire of Japan|Japan}}, the {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|grand duchess}} herself was also seen traveling alongside the former, prompting rumours of the couple already being married in advance.  Subsequently, just a year later, when the prince accepted a gubernatorial post in {{wp|Canada}}, the grand duchess, with William's own permission, also went alongside him to {{wp|Canada}}. While there, despite only being engaged to one another with no exact plans for marriage so far, {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Maria Alexandrovna}} herself in particular, was mostly referred to by both the {{wp|Canadian}} public and some government officials as ''Mary, Princess of Wales'', as if the two had married already, although this is most likely due to the overall nature of the relationship between the two, whom at one point, were described as being "inseparable" and "mutually befitting for one another".
Subsequently, for the next six years long period of their engagement, both William and {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Maria Alexandrovna}} continued to appear together on an almost regular basis, before the two finally parted ways just days prior to William's marriage to his eventual wife, {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Princess Sophia}}. Nevertheless, as the grand duchess was in turn married to William's own similarly named younger brother, the two thereby remained close friends with one another, albeit in a much more restrained manner, so as to not upset their respective spouses.
===Marriage===
[[File:Sophia of Prussia by Alexander Bassano.jpg|thumb|200px|left|{{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Princess Sophia of Prussia}}]]
Thus, with no other options left in sight, William began to emphasise his efforts in truly bonding with the younger {{wp|German}} {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|princess}}, which was said to had been remarkably successful after just two months long. Due to the occasional leaves of Sophi's parents, the princess was at times left under the care of her {{wp|British}} relatives, further allowing William to better familiarise himself with {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}}. Eventually, William was able to successfully sought permission from Sophia's mother,  {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Crown Princess Victoria}} to bring the young princess to {{wp|Canada}}, which William had reportedly chose to be the venue for him to then ask for Sophia's hand in marriage. However, rather unexpectedly, the proposal occurred prematurely while the pair was still en route to {{wp|Canada}}, with Sophia instead asking for the prince's hand in marriage. The couple then hastily returned to {{wp|Germany|German Empire}} for a brief audience with the {{wp|German}} royal family before finally arriving in {{wp|Britain}}, where their engagement was subsequently made public to the {{wp|British}} royal family. Their engagement, in addition to its {{wp|Anglo}}-{{wp|German}} theme, was also seen as a direct unification between the two royal bloodlines of [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King Willliam VI and II]]'s descendants with that of the former's cousin, the former {{wp|Queen Victoria}} whom, prior to the engagement was William's first cousin, once removed thereby effectively becoming his grandmother-in-law.
For the next couple of months, despite initial reluctance by {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Crown Princess Victoria}} in being apart from her beloved daughter, Sophia resided with her {{wp|British}} cousins in {{wp|Buckingham Palace}}. As a result of her {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|mother}}'s {{wp|Anglo}}-centric upbringing, the princess quickly left a positive impression on observers, with [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|King Willliam VI and II]] himself reportedly lavishing much attention towards his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, exemplified in a letter written to Sophie's parents in which he wrote, ''"The young Sophie's presence here has been quite a remarkable blessing for us all, and if possible, I would wish for her to stay here for much longer"''. On August 1887, the couple were officially married at the {{wp|Royal Chapel}} in {{wp|St James's Palace}}. Encouraged by his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]], the couple spent their two months long honeymoon first in {{wp|Khedivate of Egypt|Egypt}}, where they resided for three weeks before finally journeying to {{wp|Canada}}. According to William himself, the young Sophia became extremely fond of the {{wp|Canadian}} scenery which prompted the couple to designate the country as their unofficial residence for most of their remaining years prior to William's own ascension to the throne in 1913.
Throughout their marriage, despite their contrasting {{wp|Germanophile}} and {{wp|Anglophile}} preferences, the two came quick to bond over the hostility shown by Sophia's brother {{wp|Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm}} whom unlike the two greatly detested {{wp|United Kingdom|Britain}} and almost anything {{wp|English}}. Coupled with the relatively hostile environment in {{wp|England}}, stemming from a tense disagreement between William and his [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|father]] over the latter's military conducts, then compensated by the growing anti-{{wp|German}} sentiment, the couple chose first to reside at the {{wp|Edinburgh Palace}} before subsequently relocating further west to the {{wp|Rideau Hall}} in {{wp|Canada}}, where they became well-known and loved for their outspoken liberal lifestyle. Subsequently, the couple actively indulged themselves in philanthropic activities and were notably credited for the rapid modernisation of {{wp|Canada}}'s infrastructure, ranging from railways to public universities, with one such institution based in the capital city of {{wp|Ottawa}} named after the princely couple.
==Personal Information==
==Titles & Honours==
*'''3 January 1862 - 28 January 1862''' ''His Royal Highness'' The Duke of Cornwall
*'''28 January 1862 - 30 January 1913''' ''His Royal Highness'' The Prince of Wales
*'''30 January 1913 - 5 January 1923''' ''His Majesty'' The King
==Honours==
== Ancestry ==
{{ahnentafel
|width=100%|align=center|collapsed=yes
| boxstyle_1 = background-color: #fcc;
| boxstyle_2 = background-color: #fb9;
| boxstyle_3 = background-color: #ffc;
| boxstyle_4 = background-color: #bfc;
| 1 = 1. '''William VII and III of the United Kingdom'''
| 2 = 2. [[Willliam VI and II of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands]]
| 3 = 3. {{wp|Princess Louise of Prussia}}
| 4 = 4. {{wp|John II and I of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands}}
| 5 = 5. {{wp|Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen}}
| 6 = 6. {{wp|William I, German Emperor}}
| 7 = 7. {{wp|Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}
| 8 = 8. {{wp|William IV and I of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands}}
| 9 = 9. {{wp|Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz}}
| 10 = 10. {{wp|George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen}}
| 11 = 11. {{wp|Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg}}
| 12 = 12. {{wp|Frederick William III of Prussia}}
| 13 = 13. {{wp|Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz}}
| 14 = 14. {{wp|Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}
| 15 = 15. {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (1786–1859)|Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia}}
}}

Latest revision as of 09:57, 3 May 2024

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