Queen Camilla's great-grandmother gifted King Edward VII a Fabergé cigarette case during their love affair and it's soon going on display in Buckingham Palace.
Alice Keppel was one of King Edward’s more socially accepted mistresses - in fact, his wife, Queen Alexandra, considered Alice really rather nice, given her discrete nature. Ms Keppel, we now know, also had a fantastic eye for a post-adultery aide mémoire. In 1908, Alice gifted the King an Art Nouveau Fabergé cigarette case, adorned with a diamond-encrusted snake that is said to symbolise her never-ending love for the King.
It’s not everyday that a gift from a monarch's mistress is exhibited for all to see at Buckingham Palace. But when you had as many extra-marital affairs as King Edward VII did, you’re bound to end up with the occasional rather special trinket. And when it’s from Fabérge … Well, the curators behind upcoming exhibition The Edwardians: Age of Elegance would surely be remiss not to display one particular blue enamel cigarette case - especially when you consider Keppel's royal descendant.
Indeed, you could very well say that history has rather repeated itself: Alice Keppel’s great-granddaughter is none other than Queen Camilla, who was, of course, in a relationship with Prince Charles when he was married to Princess Diana. Indeed, rumour has it that Keppel’s dalliance with King Edward made for quite the opening remark when a young Camilla first met the future King, on a polo field in the 1970s. ‘My great-grandmother was your great-great grandfather’s mistress,’ she is said to have joked. ‘So how about it?’
The exhibition will open on 11 April 2025 in The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.