Page "Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" Paragraph 8

Charles Edward on a 5 Mark coin from 1907In 1900, the sixteen-year-old Duke of Albany inherited the ducal throne of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from his uncle Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Alfred's only son, Prince Alfred (" Young Affie "), died in 1899, and the Duke of Connaught, the Queen's third son, renounced his claims to the duchy.

Arthur's son, Prince Arthur of Connaught ( who also renounced his claims ), was attending school at Eton with Prince Charles Edward, and threatened to beat his cousin up if he did not accept the duchy.

While at school his mother would write to Charles Edward instilling in him a profound sense of duty and obligation.

With such strong influences from both his mother and grandmother, the young boy had no choice but to take up the seat of Coburg in order to save that line of Royal blood.

The Veste Coburg now became his main royal residence.