The Duchess was a sprightly and beautiful woman, with fair hair and blue eyes; Albert was very like her and was her declared favourite.

But in his fifth year he was parted from her for ever.

The ducal court was not noted for the strictness of its morals; the Duke was a man of gallantry, and it was rumoured that the Duchess followed her husband's example.

There were scandals: one of the Court Chamberlains, a charming and cultivated man of Jewish extraction, was talked of; at last there was a separation, followed by a divorce.
The Duchess retired to Paris, and died unhappily in 1831.

Her memory was always very dear to Albert.
He grew up a pretty, clever, and high-spirited boy.