Whitehall Extremist

*side eyes Charles, Charlie, Jamie and the spaniels* ALRIGHT BOYS, WHICH OF YOU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?

*Turns round*

Royal Mistresses- Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth 

Louise got her start as a daughter of the Seigneur de Kérouaille, an old noble family from Brittany. As the daughter of a nobleman, Louise was able to acquire a place at the court of King Louis XIV of France. When she was still quite young Louise joined the household of Princess Henrietta Anne of England, the younger sister of King Charles II and wife of the Duke of Orleans. It was hoped by her family that she would become a mistress of King Louis, but in 1670 when Louise accompanied Princess Henrietta to England she met and charmed the Princess’ brother King Charles II. When Henrietta died suddenly soon after, Louise was invited to England as a lady-in-waiting to Charles’ wife Queen Catherine.

Upon becoming the Mistress of King Charles, Louise replaced the volatile Barbara Villiers in the King’s affections. Louise was beautiful and plump, with a childlike face that prompted John Evelyn to call her “baby face.”Because of her rounder figure Charles gave her the nickname “Fubbs” (a slang term for ‘chubby’) and named a ship the HMS Fubbs in her honor. Though she was doll-like in appearance and had a sensitive nature Louise was also very clever and knew how to get what she wanted. She met with French envoys and ambassadors and was supported by King Louis in return for her support of French interests. Louise was generally disliked by the English people due to the fact that she was not only French, but Catholic as well. She was, however, well received by the Queen and the two ladies treated each other with respect and friendliness. 

My girl deserves better FR.