Today a picture of one of the most significant state visits during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, whereby Standart obviously played a leading role.
The date is June 9th 1908 and His Majesty Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India visits (as the first ever British Monarch) Russia and meets with His Imperial Majesty, Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias off the coast near Reval (today's Tallin, Estonia)
The Anglo-Russian relationship had been severely strained just two years prior to the
historical meeting between uncle and nephew. The visit was planned to
take place in 1906, but was canceled after the Dogger Bank incident,
which almost led to a war between Russian and Britain. It occurred in
October 1904, when a Russian Navy fleet attacked several British fishing
boats, killing three British sailors, having mistaken them for enemy
vessels due to severe fog conditions. The incident caused a serious
diplomatic conflict between Russia and Britain, but was settled after
Russia paid a large compensation to the surviving fishermen.
The arrival of Edward VII to Russia was considered as a necessary royal
confirmation of the recently negotiated Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907.
In this pact, Britain and Russia settled their colonial disputes in
Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet. This agreement brought the Triple Entente
into existence, an important alignment of Great Britain, France and
Russia in World War One, which war would start within four years of Edward’s
death.
The New York Times reported the next day as follows:
King and Czar meet at Reval
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Good relations between Great Britain and Russia emphasized in Speeches Made in English
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King and Stolypin talk
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Czar guarded on Pier by School Children - Meeting does not mean New Alliance, says London.
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Reval, June 9 - Edward VII., King of England, and Emperor Nicholas exchanged royal visits to-day on the waters of the Bay of Reval in the Gulf of Finland, marking the first official visit of an English Monarch to Russian waters. It was a notable meeting, and one which may have a far reaching effect in the world policies of the future.
The day was brilliant with sunshine and the imperial and royal yachts, surrounded by British and Russian warships lying in the roadstead, made a beautiful and impressive picture. The hills and the wooded shores of the bay were crowded with thousands, and the arrival of the British King by sea and the Emperor of Russia by land was made the occasion of unbounded enthusiasm.
In the course of the day the King and Emperor were entertained by the Empress Dowager at luncheon on board the Russia yacht Polar Star, which was crowded with guests. No speeches were made at this affair, but at the state banquest in the evening on board the Imperial Russian Yacht Standart toasts were given and heartily reponded to. Both King and Emperor spoke in English, and they emphasized the good relations which have succeeded the coolness between the two countries in past years, and dwelt upon the peaceful nature of the new understanding.
All the warships were brilliantly illuminated and the yachts Polar Star and Alexandra displayed special electrical effects. Early in the evening boatloads of German, Esthonian and Russian residents steamed out into the roadstead and serenaded the royal visitors with national folksongs and village roundelays, the singing of the Esthonians beig particularly pleasing as the melody floated over the moonlit waters. The members of the royal parties remained on deck until after midnight listening to the music.
King Edward had a long private consultation with Premier Stolypin after luncheon, retiring to the cabin with him. Nothing with regard to the purport of the converations between the King and Emperor and the Ministers has been published, but it is understood that they touched political relations only in a general way.
The Imperial Train bearing the Emperor and suite from Peterhof arrived here at 8 o'clock this morning. When the Imperial party alighted they were surprised to find the disembarking platform surrounded by a guard of the school children of Reval instead of by a detachment of troops. The children cheered enthusiastically, and this welcome made a deep impression upon the Emperor and the Empress.
Accompanied by the infant Czarovitch and his sisters, the little Grand Duchesses, the royal party boarded a launch and were at once taken out to the yacht Standart, which was anchored in the bay. The Dowager Empress, the Queen of Greece, and other notabilities arrived by train one hour later, and were taken out on board the yacht Polar Star.
The Emperor wore the uniform of a captain in the Russian Navy, the rank which he attained before the death of his father. The little Czarovitch, who was in high spirits, was clad in a juvenile sailor costume.
As Emperor Nicholas boarded the Standart the imperial salute was fired, the royal (! - Imperial) standard was hoisted to the masthead, and the yachts and all the rest of the shipping in the harbor of Reval dressed ship and broke out their bunting.
The British vessels, which had arrived in the offing during the night, were now visible in the horizon. They turned and headed direct for the harbor and came in at full speed in a single line. In the lead was the Victoria and Albert (III), with King Edward on board; then came the two cruisers and in their wake steamed the other royal yacht, the Alexandra, which broke her screw on the way here.
Passing outside the Russian vessels, which had turned in two lines headed respectively by the Standart and the Polar Star, the Victoria and Albert and the two cruisers swept around in agreat curve, coming close into shore and dropped anchor between the Standart and the Polar Star.
During this manoeuvre the British vessel maintained perfect intervals. King Edward was on the bridge of the Victoria and Albert and the Emperor occupied a similar postion on board the Standart. Both monarchs could be plainly seen from the shore. King Edward wore the uniform of a British Admiral. While the British vessels were taking their positions the Russian yachts and the cruisers were thundering a series of salutes, and at times the smoke from the cannon almost hid the pageant from the watchers, ashore and afloat.
The minute the visiting vessels dropped their anchors a launch bearing the Emperor Nicholas left the side of the Standart and the Russian Monarch boarded the Victoria and Albert, where he exchanged very hearty greetings with King Edward, whom he had not seen for seven years and saluted Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria. After a few minutes on board the Victoria and Albert, Emperor Nicholas returned to the Standart. In the meantime King Edward had donned the uniform of a Russian Admiral, and he at once returned the call of the Emperor. On board the Standart he was presented to Premier Stolypin, Foreign Minister Iswolsky and Vice Admiral Dikoff, Minister of Marine.
Emperor Nicholas II is wearing the uniform of a Colonel of the 2nd Dragoons Guards Regiment The Royal Scots Greys; in 1894 Nicholas became Colonel-in-Chief of this Cavalry Regiment. Nicholas' uniform has survived and is displayed below.
