CHAPTER IX 



CLAREMONT 



Few people have died so young and yet left so many lasting 

 memories as Princess Charlotte, only child of the Prince 

 Regent and Princess Caroline of Wales. There is no need to 

 recount her sadly restricted childhood — marred by the bitter 

 quarrel of her parents — or the painfully tragic circumstances 

 of her death ; but the few happy months of real freedom she 

 spent at Claremont had so great an influence on the place 

 that they can never be forgotten there. The most purely 

 ornamental and charming pleasance in the garden was laid 

 out and planted under her direction, and still bears her name. 

 And in park, pleasure grounds and garden there are many 

 other signs of her affection for the only true home she was 

 ever permitted to enjoy. 



In 1816 the hopes of the British nation were centred in 

 her marriage with Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg ; and in 

 that year Claremont became a royal seat, being purchased by 

 Government as a home for the newly married couple. It 

 is only necessary to refer briefly to the history of the place 

 before it became a royal residence. Situated in the parish 

 of Esher, county Surrey, about fourteen miles south-west of 

 London, it is recognised as one of the most charming and 

 pleasant seats in England. Surrounded as it is by beautiful 

 and varied rural scenery, it has passed through many hands, 

 and has never failed to attract a ready purchaser. In an old 

 document dated 1697, it is called Esher House, or Park. 

 The first mansion on the site of the present one was erected 

 in 1706, for his own occupation, by Sir John Vanbrugh, 

 who, besides being a notorious dramatist, was also a famous 



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