What is a duke to do when he’s given up his military commission and holds no official posts? Interior decoration of course.
The Duke of Teck, husband of Princess “Fat” Mary, put so much effort into decorating their apartments at Kensington Palace that they gained quite a wide-ranging reputation. “How handsomely and comfortably the rooms at Kensington are arranged” wrote the Crown Princess of Prussia, whilst the Princess of Wales was “looking forward so much to pay you frequent little visits at Kensington…which I heard from all sides is quite lovely”.
Unfortunately the Duke had no real income to fund this lifestyle – he and Mary eventually built up such large debts that they were forced to flee to continental Europe in 1883.
Have always loved the Tecks – I guess Queen Mary came by her excellent taste honestly . . . KDM