PAGE PREFACE v CONTENTS ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xi CHAPTER I. BIRTH AND PARENTAGE 1 CHAPTER II. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 19 CHAPTER III. THE BETROTHAL 35 CHAPTER IV. THE TRAINING OF A KING 52 CHAPTER V. "THE NORTHERN SCAMP" 70 CHAPTER VI. MATILDA'S ARRIVAL IN DENMARK 84 CHAPTER VII. MARIAGE À LA MODE 106 CHAPTER VIII. AT THE COURT OF DENMARK 124 CHAPTER IX. THE BIRTH OF A PRINCE 138 CHAPTER X. CHRISTIAN VII. IN ENGLAND 152 CHAPTER XI. THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN 175 CHAPTER XII. STRUENSEE 193 CHAPTER XIII. THE TEMPTER 209 CHAPTER XIV. THE QUEEN'S FOLLY 228 CHAPTER XV. THE FALL OF BERNSTORFF 251 CHAPTER XVI. QUEEN AND EMPRESS 265 CHAPTER XVII. THE REFORMER 280 CHAPTER XVIII. THE ORDER OF MATILDA 303 CHAPTER XIX. THE DICTATOR 328 TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS QUEEN MATILDA (_Photogravure_). _From the Painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1766_ _Frontispiece_ LEICESTER HOUSE, WHERE QUEEN MATILDA WAS BORN _Facing page_ 4 FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES, FATHER OF QUEEN MATILDA. _From the Painting by J. B. Vanloo at Warwick Castle, by permission of the Earl of Warwick_ " " 14 MADAME DE WALMODEN, COUNTESS OF YARMOUTH. _From the Painting at Gülzow by permission of Count Kielmansegg_ " " 24 JOHN, EARL OF BUTE. _From the Painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds at Wortley Hall, by permission of the Earl of Wharncliffe_ " " 36 THE ELDER CHILDREN OF FREDERICK AND AUGUSTA, PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES, PLAYING IN KEW GARDENS. _From a Painting, temp. 1750_ " " 50 QUEEN LOUISE, CONSORT OF FREDERICK V. OF DENMARK AND DAUGHTER OF GEORGE II. OF ENGLAND. _From a Painting by Pilo in the Frederiksborg Palace_ " " 62 KING CHRISTIAN VII. _From the Painting by P. Wichman, 1766_ " " 76 KEW PALACE, WHERE QUEEN MATILDA PASSED MUCH OF HER GIRLHOOD. _From an Engraving, temp. 1751_ " " 90 THE MARRIAGE BALL OF CHRISTIAN VII. AND QUEEN MATILDA IN THE CHRISTIANSBORG PALACE. _From a Contemporary Print_ " " 104 THE CHRISTIANSBORG PALACE, COPENHAGEN. _From an Old Print, temp. 1768_ " " 120 EDWARD, DUKE OF YORK, BROTHER OF QUEEN MATILDA. _From the Painting by G. H. Every_ " " 132 QUEEN MATILDA RECEIVING THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE COURT ON THE BIRTH OF THE CROWN PRINCE FREDERICK. _From a Contemporary Print_ " " 142 CARLTON HOUSE, PALL MALL, THE RESIDENCE OF THE PRINCESS-DOWAGER OF WALES. _From a Print, temp. 1765_ " " 156