Marlborough House set
Social group around King Edward VII / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Marlborough House set (also known as the smart set)[1] was a social group that surrounded Edward, Prince of Wales, from the 1870s into his reign as King Edward VII (1901–1910). The group was centred on Pall Mall, the site of Edward's residence, Marlborough House, and the Marlborough Club with which he was closely associated.
The Marlborough House set enjoyed horse racing, hunting, shooting and playing cards. They often visited country houses for weekend-long parties, at which adultery was common. The set was condemned by some in society for its loose morals, but increased Edward's popularity with the general public.
The set included some of the leading bankers, politicians and lawyers of the day, and some members were rewarded with positions at court upon Edward's accession to the throne.