Power behind the scenes

Parliament has so dominated the writing of English political history that the royal household has been sidelined. Moreover, the absence of a tradition of court literature as strong as the French, and prudent bonfires of such compromising documents as the letters to George III from Lord Bute, subject of this remarkable study — and to John Brown from Queen Victoria — have erected walls of silence around this elusive institution.

In reality, well into the 19th century the court was the centre of power and pleasure in London. Someone as independent as Swift spent years haunting St James’s palace in search of a job. It contained a Secretary of State’s office and a council chamber as well as royal apartments, and was often too small for all those trying to attend court functions. From Marlbor- ough to Disraeli, some of the leaders of England have also been accomplished courtiers. Control of the royal household was indispensable for ministers trying to form an adminstration — hence the ‘bedchamber crisis’ of 1839. This magnificent new book on one of the most powerful and detested of British court officials shows the household’s importance in British culture as well as politics. While also running the country, John Stuart third Earl of Bute formed superb collections of pictures for himself and his king.

His career began with a chance meeting at Egham races in 1747. Rain had stopped the horses running. To amuse Frederick Prince of Wales, a partner of sufficiently high rank to play cards at the same table was needed. Lord Bute was the right man in the right place. That evening he accompanied the Prince back to Cliveden. In 1750 he was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber, in 1756 Groom of the Stole to the future George III.