Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Royal baccarat scandal

Royal baccarat scandal

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of the TFAR nomination of the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add   to the top of the discussion and   at the bottom, then complete a new TFAR nom underneath.

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/July 31, 2014 by BencherliteTalk 23:59, 30 June 2014 (UTC)



The royal baccarat scandal was a British gambling scandal of the late 19th century involving the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII. In September 1890 Edward was invited to a house party at Tranby Croft, Yorkshire, the home of Arthur Wilson and his family. During the Prince's stay, lieutenant colonel Sir William Gordon-Cumming was accused of cheating at baccarat and was subsequently pressured into signing a document that stated he would never play cards again, in exchange for the silence of the guests. The secret was not kept for long, and Gordon-Cumming demanded a retraction from the Wilson family, who he considered to blame for divulging the news. They refused and he filed a writ for slander in February 1891. Despite the efforts of the prince's courtiers to have the matter dealt with by a military court, the case was heard in June 1891. The atmosphere at trial was described as being like a theatre, and Edward was called as a witness, the first time the heir to the throne had been compelled to appear in court since 1411. Gordon-Cumming was found guilty, dismissed from the army, and ostracised from society for the rest of his life.
 * Most recent similar article(s): Not sure we've had any scandals this year: last British royalty was 8 January 2014 Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale
 * Main editors: SchroCat
 * Promoted: 21 June 2014‎
 * Reasons for nomination: Any further reasons for your nomination
 * Support as nominator. SchroCat (talk) 12:08, 30 June 2014 (UTC)