Old Royal Scandal Raised (Press, 26 March 1963)
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Summary: Old Royal Scandal Raised (Press, 26 March 1963)
On 24 March 1963, it was reported that a document revealing a historical scandal involving the Duke of Cumberland, a relative of Queen Victoria, may be published pending the Queen's consent. The “Sunday Telegraph” stated that this document includes an alleged confession from the Duke regarding the murder of his valet, Selis, who was discovered with a cut throat in a locked room in 1818. Although a coroner's jury ruled the death a suicide, suspicion lingered that the Duke had committed the act after the valet attempted to blackmail him concerning a homosexual advance. The Duke of Cumberland, who later became King of Hanover in 1837, was noted for his controversial sexual activities, which resulted in two illegitimate children. These activities made him susceptible to accusations of promiscuity and even incest, as highlighted by radical journalists and politicians at the time. The allegations have drawn significant interest, especially with the potential for fresh scrutiny of a long-buried royal scandal. The document in question was penned in 1827 by Captain Charles Jones, the Duke's secretary, and is currently held within the archives of Windsor Castle, filed under a label stating that it is “not to be shown to research students without permission.” A university professor, Arthur Aspinall, is working on a series of volumes about Georgian history and has expressed intentions to seek the Queen's permission to publish the document. However, Aspinall noted that he considers the Duke's alleged confession to be an invention. If the Queen were to grant permission for the document's release, it could provoke a new wave of interest in royal history and potentially reshape perceptions surrounding the Duke of Cumberland's legacy. The newspaper suggested that if such a royal scandal were to be publicly aired, it would undoubtedly attract more sensational coverage and public interest.
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