The book called “Indiscretions of Lady Susan” by Lady Susan Townley beckoned to me with the promise of its title. It turned out to be an early 20th century memoir by a wife of a British diplomat; she travelled the world with her husband, and recounts her adventures with humour and charm.
The best parts in her story related to her family history.
Her grandfather, George Keppel, 6th Earl of Albemarle, was in turn the grandson of Lady de Clifford. This woman was responsible for the education of Princess Charlotte of Wales, by all accounts a rebellious and naughty teenager. Young Keppel thus became Charlottle’s playmate, which I’m sure he sometimes rued:
On Saturdays Keppel was gennerally the guest of the Princess, but on Sundays she returned his visits [at his grandmother’s house]. One one of these occassions the Prince of Wales honoured Lady de Clifford with his company at luncheon. … That day luncheon was unaccountably late, and the old lady rang the bell violently.
When the meal was eventually served, the mutton-chop was so ill-dressed that it was quite uneatable. On inquiry it was discovered that the Princess had acted as cook and young Keppel as her scullery maid.
The book doesn’t elaborate what happened to the Charlotte and George. Probably, the Prince thought the whole thing was hilarious: he may have enjoyed his food, but by all accounts he enjoyed a joke as well.
I would be slightly worried for the fate of the actual cook and the kitchen maids, when their mistress wanted to know why none of them had warned her about what was going on in the kitchen. I could imagine a birching or two being dispensed later at night, when the guests have left.
In any case, Charlotte clearly didn’t get the punishment she deserved for her prank:
On another occassion she dragged [George] to the stables and then saddled and bridled the horse herself. Armed with a whip, she led the animal into the yard. Young Keppel was told to mount. …
Before he could grasp the reins and get his foot into the stirrup, she gave the horse a tremendous cut with a whip, so that he set off at a gallop… [George] clung to his mane, roaring lustily.
The poor Princess got a terrible scolding from Lord Albemarle, alarmed for the safety of his boy, which so incensed her that when alone with him again she treated the father’s son as she had treated the father’s horse.
Keppel ended up expelled from Westminster School for sneaking out at night, and thus ended up fighting at Waterloo at the age of 15, so Charlotte was clearly a bad influence. It wasn’t a scolding that the girl needed.
If you have any ideas as to how the young princess should have been punished, tell us in the comments. As for Keppel’s granddaughter, the writer of the memoir, I’ll write more of her adventures as I read on.
See, that just makes me feel sad for the poor little horse
It makes me feel sad for poor little George, sounds like Charlotte was a right little madam!
Obviously, Charlotte needed a sound hugging.
Um, right. A hugging. Exactly what I had in mind, NOT!
she should’ve gotten a sound thrashing on the bare in front of a large crowd
Princess Charlotte should have been taken to the throne room, where an audience of her peers were duly assembled, and made to bend over a stool. Then her fine clothing should have been raised above her waist, her bloomers taken down to around her ankles. And upon her tender bare bottom, given 12 strokes of the cane. And I mean 12 of the best strokes of the cane.