16. Louise de Kérouaille was a Royal Mistress who reputedly was also a French spy
Louise de Kerouaille met Charles II when in 1670 she accompanied her mistress and Charles’s sister, Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans on a diplomatic mission to Dover. Henrietta died soon after the meeting, but Louise had made quite an impression on Charles. He wrote to Louis XIV of France and requested Louise come to England and serve as maid of honour to his wife, Catherine of Braganza. However, Louise was only allowed to go on the basis that she continued to serve the interests of France — by reputedly spying on the English court. The gifts and honours from Louis appeared proof Louise was indeed a spy, and she became very unpopular with the English people. However, she remained one of Charles’s mistresses until his death and bore him one son, Charles, Duke of Richmond.
