ROYAL ROMANCE

Evening Star, Issue 19919, 16 July 1928, Page 14

ROYAL ROMANCE

WHAT fnISHT HAVE HEEH

GEORGE 111. AND LOVELY LADY SARAH LEiiHGX

[By a Court Historian, in the Liverpool ‘ Weekly Post.’]

What would have boon the course of history, one wonders, if King George 111. had married Lady Sarah Lennox, and England had had a Queen Sarah instead of a Queen Charlotte? Political considerations made it unwise for His Majesty to wed the lovely Scottish girl who would have been his choice, and he turned to little Princess Charlotte of. Mecklenburg, whose plainness made him wince when ho met her at Dover.

Yet ho came to love her, and after her death would wander the labyrinths and corridors of Windsor, crying: “Charlotte! Charlotte!” -

In our list of British Queens and Consorts wo have no Queen Sarah. Yet, if George the Third had been more determined in his wooing of lovely Lady Sarah Lennox, w'o certainly should have had a Consort of that Christian name. It is a love story of a Royal suit where tho man was too diffident, even though ho was King of England.

Frederick, Prince of Wales, died after a disgraceful life iu Leicester House, and before ho could succeed his father, George the Second. His son George lived to become George tho Third, and was barely of ago when ho ascended the Throng.

Wo think of him and his model wife, Charlotte—Good Queen Charlotte they used to call her—and the simple domestic court in Kensington Palace. Yet, before the marriage two lovo affairs wore lightly touched upon by George, to the disapprobation of his energetic mother, tho Princess of Wales. She and Lord Bute hoped to manage tho young King for their benefit and make a marriage for him. Before he was twenty-one George had been infatuated by tho pretty Quakeress, Hannah Liglitfoot. How much there was to the tale it is difficult to state. It is said lie married her and secreted the marriage lines in Kensington Palace. That is improbable. Hannah made a happy marriage with a stately gentleman, and a clandestine match with George, when Prince of Wales, seems impossible. His 'ovo affair with Lady Sarah Lennox was. however, a mure serious affair. Sarah belonged to a very famous family of Scottish nobility. She was an orphan, bronglw up by her undo, and resided in Holland House, in the imyswatcr road. Her good looks were famous. Doubtless George often saw her when ho rode from Kensington Palace past the tree-shaded mansion on the Bayswater road. On October 25, 1760, George the Second expired in Onsnaburg, while travelling to Hanover, his German capital. His grandson therefore took the crown. Being a young and not illlooking bachelor, there was plenty, of gossip among the courtiers whom" ho .should marrv. SARAH’S SLY DIG. Tho coronation was approaching. .He now often met Lady Sarah, and gravely discussed marriage with her. Though his tone was cynical, perhaps, she, too maintained a cool demeanour. How much they meant was hidden in each heart. He said to Sarah; “What relations, Sarah, should exist between husband and wife?” She told him it

1 Lie coronation was approaching, .He now often met Lady Sarah, and gravely discussed marriage with her. Though his tone was cynical, perhaps, she, too maintained a cool demeanour. How much they meant was hidden in each heart. He said to Sarah;_“ What relations, Sarah, should exist between husband and wife?” She told him it would be a foolish husband who would allow ids wife to govern him. She added slyly “Or allow, sire, his mother to govern him. ' This was a thrust at the domination of the Princess of Wales over tho young Monarch. The King then said ns Providence had seen lit to remove his father it was right his mother should govern him. Her retort was very daring; “ Bat, sire, is a German woman the best to govern a King of England?” The widowed Princess of Wales was of German birth. Tins conversation left an impression of sound sense upon the mind of George HI Did ho want a German wife? His mother said ho must have a German cousin Princess, Yet in a heart affair a mother was not always right. Plow tho Royal thoughts were trending was indicated at an incident at a court ball to mark the ceremony. Lady Susan Pox Strangoways was the closest friend of Lady Sarah. She was at tho ball and spoke of the coming crowning to tho King. He made a surprising answer. “There will be no crowning until there is a Queen. 1 think your friend is tho fittest person. Tell your friend so from me.” This wooing by proxy was not very successful, and the King had to experience tho wayward heart of woman. Soon afterwards Lady Sarah came to court. The King tool; her aside into a recess and said - “ Well, Lady Sarah, what did you think of my message sent by Lady Strangoways?” She replied “Nothing.” “Nothing comes of nothing,” he retorted shrewdly. He did not know at the moment she was very much in lovo with another man, and a crown, therefore, did not glitter in her eyes. Matters were in this indefinite state when an incident happened which probably robbed the Throne of a Queen Sarah. Lady Lennox wont away hunting and had an accident, and her left leg was broken. LOVER-LIKE ATTENTIONS. Tho King was much'concerned when ho heard of this. He wont to her guardian uncle, Henry Fox, to inquire as to her condition. PL's voice trembled with anxiety as he sent down a solidtons message. These lover-like attentions were brought by spies to tbo Princess of Wales. She determined to put her foot down. George must marry a Gorman Princess; a British commoner was not to bo thought of. Yet it seemed her plans must fail. Wlien at last Lady Lennox returned to London. George had no eyes for anyone but her Ho was eloquent to his intimates about her charms. Lad.y Strange ways said: “ When the King looks at Sarah, anyone can read the message. He loves her to distraction.” George tells Sarah he has named a country dance after her. Again be says ho was much devoted to another dance because a pretty lady taught it to him. He discussed books, art. and music with her. He definitely proposed again, and this time Sarah accepted him. There is definite evidence concerning this. Her private correspondence reveals her love, sense of duty, and desire to shine in tho future. Her mind was in a tumult. Would it bo right to marry the King? Would she not make bitter enemies? By her side was her guardian uncle, whispering in her ear what an opportunity such a match would be. The wily guardian said if a definite offer came she might mutter in astonishment as if confounded; “I am astonished; surprised; I understand,” and so forth. She writes to her friend, Lady Straugeways; “Tho Princess Lady Augusta watches mo as a cat doth a mouse ”; and adds a womanly postscript; “1 won’t go on jiggeting tor ever if I hear nothing definite.” A curious ’sidelight how society regarded the engagement is revealed in tho’correspondenco of the brilliant Lady Barrington, friend of her guardian uncle. WHAT SOCIETY THOUGHT. Lady Barrington was celebrated for tho beauty of her back. One flay she and Sarah were entering together the Presence Chamber of Kensington Palace, when Lady Barrington pulled Lady Sarah back and whispered: “No, my dear Lady Sarah, let mo take the load and go in before you this time, for yon

will never have another opportunity of seeing my beautiful back.”

Political forces were' now set in motion by certain enemies of Fox to prevent the marriage. They realised if his niece was the King’s consort he would have great advancement. They contended it would be undignified for the young King to marry a commoner, and ought not to be permitted. On the other hand, the partisans of Eos used many devices to cause George to come to a decision. Almost every clay he would ride by Holland House, Sarah would garb herself in rustic garb, and, wearing a big lint, would present a charming picture as she “ accidentally lingered .while His Majesty came in sight.” A .simple incident iiuisliecl this hesitating love affair, and was born from the cunning brain of the Royal mother. Seeing 'which way they wind blew and how dangerously the King was infatuated with Lady Sarah, the. Princess cast about for some counter-attraction.

She had every reason to n atcrialise a Teutonic marriage for her son. She knew how .impressed ho was with the subject of universal peace, and held decided views about national co-opera-tion to prevent carnage. Indeed, ho had started the first Conciliation Society in England, and was the president.

She wrote to plain little Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg, whom ‘die knew was pining for a husband. Sho suggested to tho young Princess sho should write to her cousin, Loyal George of England, and put in some nice peace thoughts. Thackeray, in ‘ The Four A urges,' has said how one fine day the Princess Charlotte was in the garden of tho Palace in Mecklenburg with lour other Princesses. They were discussing their future, but Princess Charlotte bemoaned no highborn person would like to marry her, as being too homely. Just then the postman blew his horn and delivered a letter into tho hands of the Princess. ft was from Royal George, saying how he appreciated the nice piece she had written on stopping war, and that he thought she had a very sober and proper nature. Would she come over to England and be his Queen? No wonder the plain little miss jumped for joy and said she thought a good fairy must have brought the letter and offer. She was so poor George had to send her money to buy wedding clothes for herself and ladies.

They said when she landed at Dover George winced away from her plainness. Perhaps ir was thinking of tho charms of Lady Sarah.

As all tho woild knows, George manfully did honour and gave lespect to her who became known as good Queen Charlotte, it was Ins duty, and for the long years of their maiT.eJ life he was a true husband, very different to tho habits of his sons.

in the evening they sat and :’laved cards in the P.alacc of Kensington,' or there was the interminable samplers and knitting. Works of charity tilled tlie Queen’s mind. It was she who stimulated the social reforms that are an outstanding feature of the period of George the Third. They had their griefs, and doubtless as age came upon them and their suns were stamped as extravagant reprobates, and handsome Prince George held revel in Carlton House, they mourned for their disobedience. Often the King would have been harsh, but the Queen, who had known an iron upbringing at Mecklenburg, would <sunlly intercede. When the shadows darkened down upon the King’s mind ho was taken down to Windsor. There he would wander, murmuring passages from the scripture; or like a venerable prophet of old seated at the organ, slowly playing Handel’s anthems. In domestic quietude and happiness it was a nearly perfect match. There is hardlv perhaps a more pathetic incident than when George came out of one of his periods of insanity, his Charlotte was missing. She was dead, buried in Royal state. He could not understand it, and would wander through the labyrinths and corridors of Windsor, crying “Charlotte! Charlotte 1” LADY SARAH LENNOX. The way of Lady Sarah Lennox parted widely from her King. Yet they remained good friends through the changing scenes of life. She was one of tho bridesmaids at tho wedding of Princess Charlotte and Horace Walpole said she was “the chief angel ’’ of tho gathering. What wore tho thoughts of Royal George ho concealed them. There was much regret throughout tho land that George had not mndo a real lov® match. People were tired of plain German Princesses. As to Lady Sarah, she kept her own counsel. Sarah survived the loss of a crown for sixty years. In her old ago she made the following declaration concerning a matter that in youth had made her tho most talked-of woman in England. It was all for the best. I loved tho King with all my heart, but I see now it was all for tho best it should come to nothing; Her first marriage was hasty and imprudent. Her mate was a gamester „nd great spendthrift. Ho was the winner of tho first “ Derby.” Her second match was far more happy and brilliant. She married into the nobio iiimily of Napier, a name already great in military annals It was said in moiety she and her second husband were tho handsomest pair in London; while in after days her sons were remarkable for their manly beauty. Queen Victoria commissioned Wintornatton to paint the family group, and it was oxhiibted in Windsor Castle. Her sons, three in number, ouch became lamous in army annals. Their military instructor was Sir John Moore, tho hero of Corunna. Of this minify Charles Napier wrote his name on the history' ot Inoia and as a commander and statesman. In the terrible carnage of Mceanco in the Uyderhad campaign he was assailed by 30,000 fanatics armed to the teeth, while his own troops numbered 2,800. In this battle he said: “Generals fought like privates and privates like ucncrats.” One of the results of the conquest of Hyderhad was that the magnificent stone, the Koh-i-Noor (Mountains of Light) was brought hack to England and presented to Queen Victoria. On returning from India in August, 184", Napier was the darliim hero of the nation, and was personally presented to Queen Victoria. His statue stands in Trafalgar square. His other brothers were also commanders and consuls in India, Afghanistan, and other outposts of Empire. All received titles. One wonders what would have been the course of history if George TIL bad prevailed over Sarah Lennox, and England had had a Queen Sarah instead of a Queen Charlotte: