A fascinating story has now found some of the answers to the mysterious and intriguing story of Frederick Blomberg in the novel ‘Prince George and Master Frederick’ by Rosalind Freeborn.
Following up a story that Rosalind’s family was, in some way, connected to King George III she decided to research the claim.
Rosalind said: “My grandmother, whose maiden name was Verna Twentyman, lived at Kirby Misperton near Malton from about 1890 – 1920.
“Her father bought the estate after making a fortune as a ship builder in Shanghai and he brought his family back to Yorkshire in the 1890s. Kirby Misperton is now Flamingo Land but the Hall is still there – it’s called the Mansion now.”
Rosalind added: “There’s a fascinating history to the ownership of the Kirby Misperton estate and it was my grandmother’s assertion that the family was, in some way, connected to King George III, that kick-started my quest.
Before passing on this story to my grandchildren, I decided to investigate her claim and what I discovered was the story of Frederick Blomberg. Little Frederick, at nearly four years old, was adopted by King George III and Queen Charlotte and brought up as a prince. He became a close friend of his ‘adopted’ brother, Prince George, the future Regent and King George IV and remained close to the royal family throughout his long life.
“A spectacular ghost story circulating in the 1760s brought Frederick’s plight as an orphan to the King and Queen’s attention. They decided to adopt him to be a playmate for their then three-year-old son Prince George, but, I am pretty sure that Frederick was the King’s ’natural son’, the outcome of a relationship with a farmer’s daughter.
“The new King George III asked his best friend William Blomberg, an equerry),to marry the girl to get her out of trouble and that’s how Frederick gained his name.
“His father, a soldier, was killed on active service in the Caribbean in about 1763 and appeared to his commanding officers, at the moment of his death, exhorting them to seek out the child of his secret marriage and to tell the king. The officers duly carried out this instruction on their return to England. They also found a box containing documents relating to young Frederick’s inheritance – the estate of Kirby Misperton.
“Frederick was unable to acquire his inheritance in his youth, but, the moment the Prince became Regent he was able to gift Kirby Misperton to Frederick.
“Frederick Blomberg with his wife and adopted daughter, his wife’s niece, moved into the hall in 1810.
He became quite the local celebrity in Yorkshire and is cited in advertisements in the local paper of the day as a keen consumer of James’s Powders, which claimed to cure gout.
Frederick built an obelisk in the ground to express his gratitude to both King George III and King George IV for granting him this estate. The obelisk is still there, but now dwarfed by the hectic rollercoaster rides of the theme park.”
Cleverly blending fact and fiction, Prince George & Master Frederick is a compelling novel following the lives of Prince George, future Regent and King, and his adopted ‘secret’ brother, Master Frederick Blomberg. It is published by Alliance Publishing Press,
for more information go to www.alliancepublishingpress.com
* Rosalind will be giving a talk on her book on Friday, May 16, at St Laurence Church, Kirby Misperton ,7pm.
Tickets are £10 to include wine and nibbles. There will also be a raffle, to raise funds to add to a lottery grant for refurbishment of the church. Tickets available from Diana Andrews on 01653 669023 or from rosemaryjsellers@ gmail.com
