George Keppel

Who was George Keppel?

Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. George Keppel, MVO was a British soldier and the husband of Alice Keppel, the mistress of King Edward VII.

Keppel was a younger son of William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle, and his wife, Sophia. He graduated from the Royal Military College in 1885 and soon after joined the Gordon Highlanders. He resigned his commission in 1892, but joined the Norfolk Artillery in 1894. He was promoted to Captain in 1908 and was appointed MVO a year later after being attached to the king during the latter's visit to Norwich that year.

On 1 June 1891, Keppel married Alice Frederica Edmonstone, a daughter of Sir William Edmonstone, 4th Baronet, and they had two daughters: Violet and Sonia. In 1898, Keppel's wife became a mistress to the Prince of Wales and continued as such until the latter's death in 1910. Keppel knew of the affair and dutifully made himself scarce when the king was with Alice.

Through his daughter Sonia, Keppel is the great-grandfather of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.