The Shadow of Great Britain

Leopold’s gaze fell on the gardener slowly walking past the vine trellis outside the window. Several seconds passed before he spoke: ”But ultimately, a girl who loves eating is far less dangerous than a monarch who lacks restraint. Delina’s status has changed now, and the public’s view of her has changed too. Her every move trains herself and trains others on how to view her. I think, regarding the issue of eating, there must be many people in London who are gossiping about her, right?”

Arthur coughed: ”I have indeed heard a lot of similar complaints. Previously, Miss Eleanor Stanley complained to me, saying, you know, it’s an endless feast in the palace. Some noble ladies have privately mentioned things to me, but their focus is not on the amount she eats, but rather their dissatisfaction with Her Majesty the Queen standing up to eat being unbecoming.”

”Standing to eat?” Leopold slowly repeated, as if confirming he hadn’t heard wrong: ”At formal occasions?”

”During informal receptions and some formal occasions,” Arthur added: ”For instance, Her Majesty sometimes at dance parties in Buckingham Palace, or while reviewing reports, if a pastry or fruit platter happens to be brought over, she would casually take a piece, listening to the ministers’ reports while standing by the window and eating a few bites.”

Leopold tapped twice on the edge of the coffee table, looking somewhat angry: ”I am not against people eating, but dining is never merely for satiating hunger; it is also to display self-control to others, even in the most private moments. Why doesn’t Melbourne remind her? As Prime Minister and personal secretary, is he waiting to see Delina make a fool of herself?”

Arthur saw Leopold’s anger but did not elaborate.

Because the main issue in this matter is not with Viscount Melbourne, but with Victoria herself.

Because Victoria never felt there was anything wrong with standing to eat; instead, she considers the need to sit for meals as a relic of Kensington Palace, and if someone suggests for her to sit down to eat, it easily reminds her of the control exerted by the Duchess of Kent and Conroy.

For this reason, those who understand Victoria would tacitly avoid mentioning this matter, whereas the nobility who are not close to Victoria, even if they provide suggestions, Victoria would not listen.

”I think Her Majesty may indeed still be learning,” Arthur said tactfully on the Queen’s behalf: ”After all, she is only eighteen; not everyone can, as you did, stand out so early at adulthood.”

”She is not just any eighteen-year-old,” Leopold’s tone was slightly heavier but then mellowed: ”But I understand what you mean.”

At this point, Leopold couldn’t help but sigh: ”If her relationship with her mother weren’t so poor, I think her current living habits might be much better, but... alas... By the way, my sister, the Duchess of Kent, how is she doing?”

Upon hearing this question, Arthur paused slightly with the teacup in his hand.

He knows that the King of Belgium has always had quite a complex sentiment towards his royal sister.

There’s both a natural familial bond and a deep dissatisfaction with her parenting methods. There’s empathy for her solitary situation as a relative, and also a clear political judgment and helplessness.

”The Duchess of Kent...” Arthur sighed lightly, choosing his words carefully: ”Her living conditions have always been quite good, but in terms of her emotional state...”

Leopold raised an eyebrow: ”Emotional state?”

”Yes.” Arthur nodded: ”Ever since the Queen moved from Kensington Palace to Buckingham Palace, the Duchess of Kent moved into the suite with a terrace on the west side. But now, she almost never attends the Queen’s public activities, nor does she often leave Buckingham Palace. Only during essential ceremonial events does she appear, but she is always late and leaves early, and she no longer enjoys socializing with everyone like before. Every time I visit Buckingham Palace to see Her Majesty, I would see the Duchess of Kent in the entertainment room playing Whist cards. The Ladies of the Palace sometimes play badminton games in the afternoon and ask the Duchess of Kent if she wants to participate, but she always refuses.”