or British citizens the 20th century’s dawn brought deep sadness as they mourned Queen
Victoria, and with her the passing of a glorious era with little but an uncertain future under the aged new King to look forward to. Edward the VII and his beautiful Danish born wife, Queen Alexandra, were already well versed in canine matters when they came to the throne, to herald a change of national direction, placing greater emphasis on building good relations with countries much closer to our boundary, rather than enlarging an Empire which boasted “the sun never set on its horizon”. The new monarch’s eagerness, and active involvement in cementing friendly relations with Europe encouraged an expansion of interest in the Canine World, and just like America, European exhibitors turned their sights to British bred winners. Even Australia and New Zealand began looking to this country for new breeding stock, and Collies appeared to be high on everybody’s list of admired breeds.
The Kennel Club, which also had to adjust to changed circumstances after the sudden and unexpected death of its founder, Mr Sewallis Evelyn Shirley, spent the new century’s early years consolidating the many changes instituted in the previous decade.
