Robin, could you tell me a little bit more about what was going on in Britain? Who were the men making the decisions and how were these decisions being made?

Okay, I mean, I think we need to take a sort of step back from the kind of government we're used to now, which is still technically a constitutional monarchy after all.

We're in a period where the king has significant influence, interest, as you would say in the 18th century, but is still very limited by what he can really do.

And also it's a slightly, it's a bit of a mistake to imagine that there's a policy agenda as such.

He's not making policy.

Policy is made within departments.

So each department of government is a bit like its own little feudal seigneury.

But was public perception and reaction more nuanced?