It was a farce of a coronation. Yet it was a coronation all the same. And from that day those about the king noticed a new resolution in his manner. The first to be aware of this was Lord Bute, and although he was certain of his hold on the King's affections and therefore was certain of his own powers, from that time he did begin to be a trifle uneasy.
Conflict with the Princess Dowager
Now began the happiest weeks of Charlotte's life. George found her amicable, eager to learn; and the fact that she could speak only German and French, which cut her off from society considerably, made her turn to him for guidance and protection. Apart from her appearance she was all that he asked of a wife; and as he was a man who could only be at peace if he believed he was doing what was right, he began to enjoy his marriage. There were whole days when he did not give Sarah a thought; and even when he caught a glimpse of a Quaker's habit in the streets he would assure himself that together he and Charlotte would be such an example to all married people throughout the land that youthful indiscretions would count as nothing.
He had suppressed his own wishes; he had married Charlotte for the good of the country; and it was his duty to make that for her good and his own. He was physically contented; he was not a sensual man, although he had a fondness for women and could always be deeply affected by feminine charms. It gave him pleasure to contemplate these and to know that a less respectable man in his position would have nourished that emotion they aroused. Not so, George. He was going to be a faithful husband and introduce a new respectability into the Court and country.
So he devoted himself to Charlotte, who congratulated herself that the most fortunate aspect of her marriage was her husband's determination to cherish her. He quickly discovered her love of music and told her that they must have musical evenings during which she could display her skill at the harpsichord and hear some of the musicians of the Court. She would love the Opera he was sure, and within a few days of the coronation he had taken her to hear one. If was a state occasion; the people were still affectionate towards their King and Queen and when they entered the royal box they received a loyal ovation.
Later, he told her, when she had learned English he would take her to the play. She would enjoy the play, he was sure; but he saw no reason why she should not see the Beggar's Opera which had just been revived. He told her the story of the highwayman and London low life to which she listened avidly, not understanding it completely, for London low life was something quite different from anything she had ever imagined.
"In my grandfather's day it was considered treasonable," he told her.
She could not understand how the antics of criminals and gaol birds could affect the Crown.
"Oh, some of the characters were meant to be caricatures of the King's ministers. But that is all different now. The allusions have no point. And we are not afraid of a little ridicule.”
He spoke almost complacently; the cheers of the people were still ringing in his ears and he believed everything was going to be so different under his reign. He drove with her a little way out into the country. She was enchanted with her new land which was so beautiful at this time of year when the leaves were russet and gold and the grass still green.
"It would be pleasant," said George, 'if we had a house where we could live apart from the Court...
well, not entirely so, but a place where we could be free from continual ceremony. I think I will buy you a house.”
"A house for me," cried Charlotte, enchanted.
"Which," George reminded her, 'you will invite me to share with you.”
They talked of houses. "I never liked Hampton Court," he told her in a rush of confidence. "My grandfather once struck me there ... and I always remember it.”
"Struck you. He must have been a disagreeable old man.”
"He was. I don't think he meant me to take it so seriously. He had a very quick temper and I suppose he thought me particularly stupid. In any case he struck me, and I have never liked the place since.”
"Then I shall not like it either," declared Charlotte.
"But I never liked it even before that incident," went on the King.
"It's too flat. I asked Capability Brown to do something about the gardens and he refused me. He said there was nothing to do there and he declined out of respect for himself and his profession.”
"Capability." she said. "It is an odd name.”
"His name is Lancelot. But he is called Capability because, when shown the garden, if he wishes to work on it he remarks; "This has great capabilities." He is a despot about gardens ... but a genius; and it is said that there is no gardener in the world to compare with him. He can transform a place.”
"And he refused to touch Hampton?”
"He refused to touch Hampton," repeated George with satisfaction.
"I want you to come to see Wanstead House which is on the market.”
How she enjoyed these excursions with the King. He brought to them a cosy intimacy. They might have been a nobleman and his wife with no state duties, choosing their first home together.
Wanstead House was enchanting.
"One of the finest houses in the country," said George. "If you had stayed here on your way to St.
James's, you would have thought the Palace a mean place in comparison.”
"It is a little farther in the country than we hoped," suggested Charlotte. "It is beautiful, I admit. I have never seen a house which delighted me more; but if we lived here we should not be able to visit it often.”
George nodded. Charlotte was proving herself to be a practical young woman.
"There would be a journey through the city," he said. "Oh, yes, you are right. It is too far from St.
James's. We should never be able to retreat without a fuss. I suggest that we go back and take a look at Sir John Sheffield's house. He wants 21,000 pounds for it.”
Charlotte was delighted when she saw Buckingham House. She declared that for position it was exactly right, being so near St. James's. They both decided it would suit them and went through the vast house talking excitedly in German about what alterations they would have made. The King took the matter of Buckingham House up with his ministers and it was finally decided that if the King would give up Somerset House, which would be used for public benefit, the country would settle Buckingham House on the Queen.
This seemed a reasonable and very pleasant arrangement, and Charlotte and George gave themselves up to the happy occupation of planning a house. Very shortly reconstruction was in progress and the house became known as the Queen's House. Happiness had its effect on Charlotte's appearance.
One of the Court wits remarked: "The bloom of her ugliness is wearing off.”
Mademoiselle von Schwellenburg grew more important every day in her own opinion. It was inconceivable, she reasoned, that these English women who surrounded her mistress should have more standing than she had. She was German; she had known her mistress when she was merely the insignificant sister of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; therefore she was a specially privileged person. Albert? He was merely the hairdresser a lower servant. Haggerdorn – a woman without spirit, meant to serve such as Mademoiselle von Schwellenburg.
She had inaugurated a new method of dressing the Queen. As it was beneath her dignity to take active part in the operation, she would direct it. She attempted to make this clear to the English women by signs and grimaces which they pretended not to understand. Then she approached Charlotte and asked her to explain to the ladies that as Her Majesty's personal attendant she was in authority over them.
In her happy frame of mind Charlotte wanted to please everyone and told the English, in French, that in future Mademoiselle von Schwellenburg would direct them. Elizabeth Chudleigh listened with outward decorum, but immediately talked over the matter with the others.