Long before Charles and Camilla, there was King Edward VII and Alice Keppel.

Before Charles, Diana and Camilla's love triangle became one of the biggest scandals in royal history, there was Alice Keppel and King Edward VII.

Because whilst the torrid affair between Charles and Camilla has been a highly publicised relationship since its inception, it is merely an example of history repeating itself. 

Quite ironically, too. 

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Alice Keppel is the great-great-grandmother of Queen Camilla, and King Edward VII is the great-great-grandfather of King Charles.

Alice was also King Edward's most favourite mistress. 

The pair met in 1898 when then-Prince Albert Edward was 56 years old and she was 29.

Alice Keppel, née Edmonstone, grew up in Duntreath Castle in Scotland and married Lieutenant-Colonel George Keppel, a British Royal officer, at 23. According to reports, she was known for being beautiful and exceptionally kind. 

"She was luminous, resplendent. She not only had a gift of happiness, but she excelled in making others happy. She resembled a Christmas tree laden with presents for everyone," her daughter Violet described her, according to Town and Country Magazine.

Alice Keppel, 1906. Image: Getty.

While Alice was born into a high-ranking family as the daughter of an admiral, she was intent on moving even further up the ladder. 

So, she began having affairs.

It worked out well; and it's how she met Prince Albert Edward and maintained a relationship with him for 12 years — right through to his coronation as King Edward VII and until his death in 1910. 

Alice's husband George knew about the affairs. In fact, they were happy despite their... unconventional ways. 

He had affairs of his own and is reported to have said: "I do not mind what she does as long as she comes back to me in the end." 

Alice was not the only one who benefitted from the affair either, as King Edward VII gave her shares in a rubber company (which amounts to around $7-8 million today), created endowments for her through his friends and promoted her husband to a high-paying job under Sir Thomas Lipton (the founder of Lipton tea).

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While Princess Diana famously felt her marriage was "crowded" with King Charles having an affair, King Edward VII's wife, Queen Alexandra, found Alice helpful.

She even preferred Alice over her husband's previous mistress, Daisy Warwick. She was respectful, discreet and smoothened out the King's erratic and sometimes irritable behaviour. 

Alice was so good at keeping the King in a good mood that she had even become a trusted advisor. The Viceroy of India was said to have found her to be a confidante who helped in the political space.

George and Alice Keppel with their daughter Violet, 1907. Image: Getty.

"There were one or two occasions when the King was in disagreement with the Foreign Office and I was able, through her, to advise the King with a view to the policy of Government being accepted," he said. 

"She was very loyal to the King and patriotic at the same time."

Sadly, despite Alice urging the King to take care of his health, he died on May 6, 1910. Reports say she was so inconsolable at his deathbed that she had to be removed from his room. 

Queen Alexandra left no room for Alice in court, so the Keppel family travelled before settling in Galileo, Italy in 1925. The pair hosted prominent members of British society, including Winston Churchill. 

During Alice and George's time together, they raised two daughters: Violet and Sonia Keppel. 

Queen Camilla at a memorial plaque in honour of Alice Keppel, 2017. Image: Getty. 

Sonia had her own daughter, Rosalind, in 1921, and Rosalind had three children of her own, including now-Queen Camilla.

In the early days of Camilla and Charles' romance, she reportedly told the royal: "My great-great-grandmother was your great-great-grandfather’s mistress, so how about it?"

Alice was the last woman to hold the title of royal mistress publically.

She died in 1947, and her husband George passed away two-and-a-half months later after 56 years of marriage. 

With her death came the end of an era in which royal mistresses were acceptable to have.

Because while royal affairs still happen, they have become taboo and tabloid fodder within the last century — just ask King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

Feature Image: Getty.