28th.—I received a very kind letter from Princess Charlotte, dated Saturday, 24th. Very happy in the thoughts of approaching freedom, and saying that she should send for me to visit her as soon as she was mistress of her own house. I went this morning to Chantry’s, while Lord St. Vincent sat for his bust.
I afterwards saw a person, who told me Princess Mary had informed him that the Prince Regent was quite nervous with impatience to get Princess Charlotte married, as otherwise the Opposition might clamour for her being treated as an heir-apparent, and want more than ministers could, or it would be proper to, give.
March 1.—I was at a small party at Lady Harrington’s. It was said there that orders had been sent to Weymouth to prepare the Lodge for the reception of somebody, but of whom it is not known. Some said the Prince of Saxe-Coburg was to remain there until the marriage; others, that Princess Charlotte was; others, that perhaps they were to be married soon, and both go there to stay till after Easter. It is now said the Prince Regent is to come to town on the 10th.
The introduction of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg was very embarrassing to Princess Charlotte, and (what must have been still more so) the Queen then left them together. He is now sent on a tour, and to finish at Weymouth, where he is to remain till the day before the marriage. She is gone back to Cranbourne Lodge. Lord Winchilsea, who is just returned from Windsor, said at the Opera that the message about the marriage was to go down to Parliament to-day. Others say it is not to be till this day week. I dined at Prince Castelcicala’s. I believe it is true that the Duke de Berri is to marry the grand-daughter of the King of Naples, by the first wife of the Hereditary Prince, who was sister of the Emperor of Austria.
6th.—The message[[62]] did not come down; and Mr. Thomas Granville told Mr. T. that the reason was because there was a difficulty; for that the Prince Regent wished 50,000l. a year to be asked for Princess Charlotte and her husband, but only 10,000l. of it to be given into their hands for their privy purse, and the salaries of three ladies and three gentlemen; the other 40,000l. to be given to him to provide house, &c. for them. This being an intention subversive of all confidence in their future Queen, Mr. Thomas Granville considered as impossible to be proposed by any Ministers, and therefore concluded some alteration in it must take place. How true this account might be I know not; but the provision has been settled at 10,000l. a year to Prince Leopold, for their joint expenses, and 60,000l. as an outfit.
29th.—The Duke de Berri’s approaching marriage with the Princess Caroline, daughter of the Hereditary Prince of Naples, by his first wife, a sister of the Emperor, is confirmed.
Cards have been sent to the Queen’s ladies for the 4th of May, to attend the wedding of Princess Charlotte. It is said the precedent for the wedding, &c., is the marriage of the late Duchess of Brunswick, but all Peers and Peeresses were invited to that, and will not be to this.
Lady John Thynne and Lady Emily Murray are appointed ladies of the bedchamber to Princess Charlotte; Mrs. Campbell, privy purse and bedchamber woman; Miss F. Coates, bedchamber woman; Colonel Addenbroke, equerry. The marriage is now fixed for the 2nd of May.
May 1.—The Queen came to Town on the 29th of April. Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg to the apartments of the Duke of Clarence, and Princess Charlotte to Warwick House. The royal household, the Cabinet Ministers and their wives, and Foreign Ministers and their wives, are invited to the wedding.
6th.—Intend leaving London to-morrow for Dover, in my way to Paris with Sir Thomas and Lady Troubridge, and two Mr. Norgates. Received a very kind message from Princess Charlotte, which she gave to Madame [ ] on the day of her wedding, regretting my going.