What was the deal with the 17 rooms Queen Victorias mother wanted and then the Uncle (King) yelled at her for it. What was going on? Why did she take so many rooms and why was he so upset?
"I'm not crazy M'Lynn, I've just been in a very bad mood for forty years"
Victoria and her mother occupied a "Grace and Favor" apartment in Kensington Palace. Essentially a gift from the King, as the palace was considered his property.
Most palaces have public reception rooms, dining rooms, etc... The State Rooms. Then there are private rooms which are divided into apartments for members of the royal family, their servants/assistants, and others connected to the royal family.
The rooms you are allocated are determined by the sovereign. However, Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, took possession of an additional 17 rooms in Kensington, which had not been allocated to her.
At the time she took them, they were unoccupied, however it was likely they were to be assigned to someone else. It was an extreme breach of protocol. And since the King and the Duchess were already on bad terms, he took it as a personal insult.
Yes, that was actually very much in character.
shareA mere Duchess usurping 17 rooms, even if she was the mother of the acknowledged heir was an extreme breach of protocol, and it made her look as though her standing at court was significantly higher on the totem pole than it actually was. Add to that the fact that nobody seemed to like her husband and you have the reason. IMHO
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