IN the old Leine Schloss Frederick, Prince of Wales, was wondering why his parents did not send for him. He could not understand the position. When his grandfather was alive it had been reasonable enough. Grandfather had been King of England and Frederick’s father Prince of Wales. As his grandfather was also Elector of Hanover it had seemed natural enough—at least not incomprehensible—that he, Frederick, should remain at Hanover to represent the family. That was his grandfather’s explanation on his visits. But now, his father had been King for over a year and still he was not invited to go to England.

‘I don’t understand it,’ he said to his friend Lamotte, who was an officer in the Hanoverian army. ‘Surely I should be in England by this time.’

‘Doubtless Your Highness will be recalled soon now.’ ‘Soon! I’ve been waiting for more than a year for that summons.’

Frederick stood up and paced up and down the apartment. He was a good looking young man, but short like his father; he had the heavy rather sullen Hanoverian jaw and the rather protuberant blue eyes; but because of his youth these had not become accentuated as in the case of grandfather and father—and the good skin and bright hair gave him a pleasing appearance.

‘Well, Your Highness enjoys life in Hanover.’

Frederick considered it. It was true. He had his position and everyone wished to be in his good graces. He had his mistresses and his men friends, and both pleased him equally. It was not that he had anything to complain of in Hanover. But he was the Prince of Wales; he had never seen England; and he had not seen his parents since he was seven. Therefore he was piqued because although they had been at liberty to send for him for more than a year they had not yet done so.

Did they think he was a child still?

If they did, he would soon disillusion them.

‘I have no intention of waiting another year, Lamotte,’ he said.

‘What will Your Highness do?’

‘I’ll think of something. It’s time I was married for one thing. I should be producing a family ... a legitimate family. After all it will be for me to provide England with a future king. I want to try my skill on the battlefield. In fact I want them to understand I am no longer a boy. If they don’t act soon, Lamotte, I promise you I shall. There is my cousin, Wilhelmina. We should be married by now.’

‘You think your father will agree to the match?’

‘But it was arranged by my grandfather. Wilhelmina and I would be married by now if he hadn’t died. My Aunt Sophia Dorothea wants it.’

‘It will depend, of course, Your Highness, on your uncle the King of Prussia and your father the King of England.’

‘Everyone knows that my uncle of Prussia is a madman.’

Lamotte was silent and Frederick burst out laughing.

‘Oh come, Lamotte, you don’t have to be cautious with me. You know how he treats his family. I should imagine Wilhelmina will be glad to escape. She will look upon me as her rescuer and she’ll love me for that alone.’

The Prince was gazing dreamily ahead. The boy had very romantic notions, Lamotte thought.

‘Why should I wait! ‘ cried Frederick suddenly. ‘Poor Wilhelmina! What will she think of me? Doubtless she is waiting for me to come and rescue her and take her away from Berlin ... for what a hell that must be. My uncle is brutal to them both ... I don’t know how they endure it. They say he thrashes them with his own hands—my cousin Fritz and Wilhelmina. I’ll swear she is waiting for me to come and take her away.’

‘She will know, Your Highness, that everything depends on the whim of her father ... and yours.’

‘Oh, these parents! Why should they rule our lives when we are of age? I tell you this, Lamotte: I am going to marry my cousin Wilhelmina and there shall be no more delay.’

‘I don’t see how, Your Highness ...’

‘Of course you don’t. But I’ve thought of a plan. I am going to Berlin and if necessary I shall carry off my cousin. I shall bring her back to Hanover and together she will come with me to England.’

‘You think she would agree?’

‘Have you forgotten that in the first place she will escape from that hell on earth and in the second by marrying me she will become Princess of Wales. And you ask if she will agree!’

‘So Your Highness plans to go to Berlin.’

‘Not just at first. First I shall send an ambassador ... a secret ambassador. How does that strike you, Lamotte? He shall travel to Berlin and find a way of sounding the Princess Wilhelmina, and the Queen.... The ambassador will tell them that I intend travelling to Berlin and that if the King of Prussia and the King of England won’t give their consent we shall do without it.’

‘And how do you think the Queen will respond to that?’’My dear Lamotte, she wants this marriage more than anything in the world. It was her idea in the first place that there should be a double marriage plan. Wilhelmina for me and my sister Amelia for her son Fritz. Her daughter to be Queen of England in due course and her niece, my sister Amelia, to be Queen of Prussia. It will keep the two crowns in the family. That is her plan and she longs to see it put into practice. There will be no opposition from that quarter.’

‘And you think your ambassador will succeed in this mission?’

‘I am sure he will. He has never failed me before.’ ‘So you have chosen him.’

Frederick smiled. ‘Certainly. You will begin making your preparations to leave at once, my dear Lamotte.’

Lamotte was uneasy as he came into Berlin.

It was all very well for Frederick to assure him that he had been given this mission because he was a trusted friend. There were times when it was safer not to be on too intimate terms with Princes. This was a delicate mission and it could so easily go wrong; and those who had been commanded to help carry out such missions were often blamed.

Would it be possible for Frederick to marry without the consent of his father? He supposed so if the King of Prussia gave that consent; and if the King of Prussia knew that it was against the wishes of the King of England that his son should marry Wilhelmina he would most certainly approve of the match; for nothing could give the King of Prussia more pleasure than the discomfiture of the King of England.

Yes, it was indeed a delicate mission. And how best discharge it?

Frederick had sworn that he would give Lamotte three weeks to prepare the way before he himself left Hanover for Berlin; by the end of the time he expected Lamotte to have found out what his reception would be—but, he had pointed out emphatically, he intended to come in any case. If they were prepared to welcome him all well and good; he would come and marry Wilhelmina. If not he would come in secret and elope with her.

The Prince must be welcomed to Berlin, thought Lamotte. An elopement would be disastrous; in any case Wilhelmina might decide against such a measure. Lamotte was not as certain that she was as eager for the marriage as Frederick was.

Lamotte had a friend who was a chamberlain to the Queen of Prussia and to this young man, whose name was Sastot, he decided to present himself. If Sastot could arrange a meeting with the Queen that would be the best move because of one thing Lamotte was certain: the Queen of Prussia was as eager for this marriage as Frederick himself.

But the affair must be kept an absolute secret for it could be disastrous if a hint of what was happening reached the ears of the King of England.

He presented himself at Sastot’s residence telling the servants that he was a nobleman travelling for pleasure and had just arrived in Berlin so thought he would call on an old friend.