The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1738: Chapter 75: Summoning Scotland Yard Deputy Hasting to Court

London, Buckingham Palace.

The fireplace in the palace was burning brightly, yet the warmth couldn’t dispel the awkward atmosphere lingering in the room.

King William IV reclined in the large red velvet armchair, a woven blanket draped over his legs.

As the oldest King of Britain ever to ascend to the throne, King William IV had just celebrated his 69th birthday this August.

His hair was already thin, mixed with gray and white, and slightly bald at the back. However, from his full forehead and the slightly unhealthy rosy cheeks due to long-term drinking, one could vaguely see the sailor traits left in his youth with the Royal Navy.

The ”Prince’s Study Briefing” sent by the Duchess of Kent had been flipped through several times, yet the writing on the paper wouldn’t rearrange itself into a version more pleasing to the King due to his dissatisfaction.

”German, excellent. English, adequate. French, passable. Italian, for official use. Latin, somewhat understood...” King William IV downed his spicy watered-down whiskey in one gulp, his tone carrying nasal sounds and sarcasm: ”Of course, after all, German is the language her mother uses all day long with her half-sibling ’prince relatives’.”

Sir Herbert Taylor, the King’s private secretary, stood in front of King William IV. Having been trusted by the Royal Family since George III’s time, this veteran of three reigns was over fifty but still stood tall.

Taylor desperately tried to mend the terrible relationship between Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, but he didn’t want to anger the King, so he slightly bowed and gently advised: ”Your Majesty, the Duchess of Kent is undoubtedly dedicated to Princess Victoria’s education. Of course, her arrangement with the Kensington System may indeed have been overly strict.”

King William IV glanced slightly sideways, the old King couldn’t help but hum: ”Taylor, when did you become so cautious with your words? I appreciate your loyalty, but we are discussing education here! And it’s not Delina I’m talking about, but her mother, that woman from the Saxony-Coburg family!”

Speaking of this, King William IV suppressed his anger and slowed his tone: ”You surely haven’t forgotten how that woman previously refused to let Delina attend my coronation in 1831, have you? She and Conroy colluded to keep Delina at Kensington, preventing my niece from standing with her uncle in Westminster Abbey!”

Sir Herbert Taylor, though desperate to smooth things over, had to hold his tongue upon hearing the King bring up old stories.

He understood that the Duchess of Kent and Conroy didn’t let Victoria attend King William IV’s coronation primarily because of King William IV’s insistence on having his illegitimate children attend, especially concerned about being present at the same occasion as King William IV’s eldest illegitimate son, George FitzClarence.

Because George FitzClarence had already been granted the title of Earl of Munster by King William IV, and since he had received an official nobility title, according to British etiquette, George FitzClarence would certainly enjoy a clear aristocratic position at the coronation, listed in the front row.

The Duchess of Kent and Conroy believed that whether standing alongside these ”non-marital nobles” or ranked below them would damage Victoria’s public image and tarnish her good name. So, Kensington Palace declined to attend citing health reasons.

Even before this, King William IV had already harbored discontent towards the Duchess of Kent.

Though he approved Kensington Palace’s leave out of consideration for maintaining the Royal Family’s dignity, anger afterwards was unavoidable, and the relationship between the two sides reached an irreconcilable point.

King William IV considered the Duchess of Kent’s actions not only an insult to him personally but a deliberate exclusion of his illegitimate children, disrupting the normal operations of the Royal Family.

Additionally, he detested Conroy even more, who was advising the Duchess of Kent.

King William IV believed that this wasn’t about maintaining his niece’s image, but the Duchess of Kent was concerned that her private secretary, Conroy, wouldn’t receive sufficient courtesy at the coronation. In other words, Kensington Palace’s fear that the Crown Prince would be embarrassed was only a small portion of the reason; the main concern was Conroy, who controlled Kensington, feared he would be embarrassed, and the Duchess of Kent was unwilling to let Conroy be embarrassed.

Thinking of this, King William IV became filled with anger: ”And that’s not all, she dared to privately assign Kensington Palace’s rooms to Conroy and her family, living in my palace, using my money for expenses, but never giving me the right to know!”

Sir Herbert Taylor was stunned upon hearing this. It wasn’t the first time he heard the King complain about the Duchess of Kent, but this time, the information seemed more detailed than usual.

”Privately assigning rooms...” Sir Taylor hesitated: ”Your Majesty, forgive my boldness, but is this information true?”

”Of course it’s true! She appropriated a house with 17 rooms in Kensington Palace for her own use! Do you think I would lie?” King William IV’s stomach rose and fell with anger: ”Does she think she can cover everything up flawlessly? With the Kensington System, does she think all scandals can be concealed? In this world, there’s no such thing as flawless cover-ups! Someone will always let it slip!”

Perhaps worried that Taylor might also let it slip, King William IV did not tell him that the last person who ”inadvertently” let it slip had the surname Hastings.