List of Illustrations

1. Josiah Child. © National Portrait Gallery, London

2. A view of the approach to Wanstead House. By courtesy of the author

3. Assembly at Wanstead House, 1728–31: the family, c. 1830. (Oil on canvas), Hogarth, William (1697–1764) / Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, PA, USA / The John Howard McFadden Collection, 1928 / Bridgeman Images

4. Catherine, aged around twenty-one. By courtesy of the author

5. Draycot House. By courtesy of the author

6. King William IV (1765–1837), 1837. (Oil on canvas), Wilkie, Sir David (1785–1841) / Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland / Bridgeman Images

7. The Royal Lover: the Duke of Clarence. © The Trustees of the British Museum

8. Miss Long-ing for a Pole. © The Trustees of the British Museum

9. Worshippers at Wanstead: Catherine’s suitors. © The Trustees of the British Museum

10. Arthur Wellesley (1769–1852), 1st Duke of Wellington, 1814. (Oil on canvas), Lawrence, Sir Thomas (1769–1830) / Apsley House, The Wellington Museum, London, UK / Bridgeman Images

11. William’s father, c. 1814. By courtesy of Greg Roberts

12. Young William, 1804. © Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust

13. Wanstead House: the first private Palladian residence in Britain. By courtesy of the author

14. Wanstead Gardens: the ‘English Versailles’. By courtesy of Essex Record Office

15. The Epping Hunt. By courtesy of the author

16. Drury Lane Theatre. © Mary Evans Picture Library

17. Election poster, 1818. By courtesy of the author

18. The principal State Floor at Wanstead: harmoniously proportioned with panoramic views of the gardens. Author’s collection

19. Wanstead House’s magnificent furniture: a Louis XIV petit armoise, c. 1700–10. (Ormolu, brass, tortoiseshell, ebony & marquetry), Boulle, Andre Charles (1642–1732) (attr. to) / Private Collection / Photo © Christie’s Images / Bridgeman Images

20. The Wanstead House sale catalogue. By courtesy of the author

21. Rue Castiglione, Paris, c. 1829. By courtesy of the author

22. Naples. © Mary Evans Picture Library

23. William, c. 1827. By courtesy of Greg Roberts

24. Wanstead Park: the Lake House. By courtesy of Essex Record Office

25. The effects of a Blithe W riding on a long Pole. © The Trustees of the British Museum

26. William in court. © National Portrait Gallery, London

27. Vice and Profligacy extinguished by Equity. © National Portrait Gallery, London

28. Catherine, c. 1825. © Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust

29. A Bright Thought. © National Portrait Gallery, London