Book tells story of King George III's adopted son

A Somerset man's links to Georgian royal history are explored in a new book.

Frederick Blomberg, believed to be King George III's secret son, was adopted by the king and queen in 1765 and raised in the royal household.

Mr Blomberg developed a lifelong friendship with the king's son Prince George and spent his adult life as a parish priest in Shepton Mallet.

Author Rosalind Freeborn's historical fiction novel Prince George and Master Frederick tells the story of his friendship with the prince.

Ms Freeborn said she chose it as the subject for her debut work as her grandmother thought her family had links to King George III.

"There is a connection but it's not a family one. It's to do with a property in Yorkshire where she grew up that's connected to Master Frederick," she said.

Mr Blomberg arrived at the royal palace at Richmond in 1765, initially to be a playmate for three-year-old Prince George.

His later life took him to Shepton Mallet. He also served as a parish priest in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, and Banwell, North Somerset, and had a role at Bristol Cathedral.

Ms Freeborn said "The king sent him to Cambridge to study divinity. He was ordained and then, at the age of 23, he was granted one of the wealthiest parishes in Somerset at Shepton Mallet."

Mr Blomberg is said to have preferred playing music to delivering sermons and converted his carriage into a travelling music room.

"He lived a good life. I just wanted to get into the character at the heart of the story," Ms Freeborn added.

Prince George and Master Frederick will be published on 30 January.

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