On 24 June 1902, and two days before his coronation, King Edward VII (aka ‘Bertie) was diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent an emergency operation. Thankfully, the operation was a complete success and the king was smoking cigars in his bed the following day – although the coronation had to be postponed and did not take place until 9 August 1902. To give you a taste of how the dramatic news of the King’s illness was received at the time, here …