Over many years Bertie was a frequent house guest at Ruthin Castle and had an intimate association with its residents and their lives. Born Albert Edward in 1841 but always referred to as Edward or Bertie he was the eldest son of Queen Victoria, was made Prince of Wales, and in 1901 became King Edward VII.
For many years a rakish playboy and the very soul of gay, extravagant, scandal-seeking and scandal-loving aristocratic British society, he has been described as a “rapid learner of all the wrong things as a young man” and it is said that “the news he made was seldom fit to print”.
Until Queen Victoria’s death when he was 59, Bertie was largely excluded by her from political and royal duties & responsibilities and he therefore found abundant time to indulge himself in a very full enjoyment of fun and the finer things of life. He ‘Invariably awoke in a good humour, confident that no matter what ordeals of boredom the day might bring, he would find some pleasure in it’ and he loved fine wines, drank whisky, brandy and champagne in large quantities and was a voracious eater of gourmet food, often eating as many as five full meals a day. Bertie frequently accepted domestic hospitality from friends for long weekends, his lavish requirements sometimes bankrupting them in the process. Often by creating debts he was unable to repay he acquired and raced thoroughbred horses and yachts, gambled and played cards obsessively, attended steamy spas, smoked large cigars, patronised the opera, theatre, music halls and other entertainment establishments of ‘lesser repute’, and he had a passion for clothes that caused his father, Albert the Prince Consort to complain “even when he is out shooting he is more occupied with his trousers than with the game”.
Dubbed ‘Edward the Caresser’, he was a lover of many women and father of many children and included in his circle of friends most of the ‘professional beauties’ whose pictures gazed from shop windows. These included ‘Patsy’ (Mary Cornwallis-West who lived at Ruthin Castle), the actress Lillie Langtry (a frequent visitor to the castle) and Jennie Jerome (widow of Lord Randolph Churchill, mother of Sir Winston Churchill and later, wife of Patsy’s son, George Cornwallis-West who lived at the castle). All of these women were Bertie’s lovers…..and possibly all Patsy’s three children were his. Several of Bertie’s affairs were conducted at Ruthin Castle and he loved the Cornwallis-West family, christening them the ‘Wild West Show’.
As an alternative to Bertie's, sandwiches, light meals, coffees and afternoon tea are served in the Library Bar, Inner Hall and Cornwallis Lounge.
Please note that at times Ruthin Castle also offers themed Mediaeval Banquets in a separate portion of the building. More information about Medieval Banquets here...
