Marlborough House Set

Following his marriage to Queen Alexandra in 1863, King Edward VII took residence at Malborough House, Pall Mall, London. Away from his mother Queen Victoria, the future King could assert some authority and take on the social role of the sovereignty. The house quickly became frequented by the glamorous leaders of high society and became the backdrop of many of the scandals of the day. There were still strict guidelines in place and while adultery was an accepted feature of the Marlborough House set, divorce was still considered unacceptable. Marlborough House also became a political court, where Edward and Alexandra's anti-Prussian and pro-Danish sympathies caused increasing tension between Queen Victoria and the couple. After Edward's accession in 1901, Marlborough House was considered part of the Edwardian establishment, with many of its members and regular visitors taking up roles in office.