Palmerston's analysis from the cold diplomatic perspective was indeed a moderate blow to Albert, but it did not mean he would give up the plan brewing in his mind.
As Palmerston said, even the worst empire is better than a republic.
Who knows if the rulers from the republic across the ocean might again renege on their promises to European countries not to provoke revolution; the not very glorious congress of 1815 is an eternal pain in their hearts.
The core interest of the United Kingdom lies in the stability of Europe while also maintaining a certain level of confrontation, allowing the United Kingdom to better maintain its presence in the European region.
Prince Albert casually inquired while taking a French snail out of its shell with an aluminum-plated steel fork: "During this time, has the French ambassador contacted you?"
Albert's casual inquiry indeed made Palmerston's relaxed spirit tighten again, and his forehead involuntarily broke out in a slight cold sweat.
The envoy of the newly formed French Republic did indeed meet him, but the meeting was conducted privately, and in theory, the King's Consort shouldn't know about it.
Palmerston's political acumen told him that Prince Albert's inquiry was merely coincidental. But if he guessed wrong...
Palmerston thought for a moment and immediately admitted, "The French envoy in Britain met me half a month ago!"
He then added, "However, he not only met with me. I heard that before meeting me, he also met with the Iron Duke (Wellington)!" [Note 1]
Albert did not show surprise on his face; he nodded calmly and said, "I have also heard of France dispatching a special envoy to meet with the Duke of Wellington. However..."
Prince Albert paused, his gaze turned to Palmerston with a meaningful smile, saying, "The French envoy privately meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs seems to have overstepped the bounds of diplomacy itself! Of course, the Royal Family does not have the right to interfere with the affairs of the Cabinet,"
Sitting on the other side of Albert, Queen Victoria, upon hearing Albert's voice, also put down her knife and fork and directed her gaze at Viscount Palmerston.
Even Palmerston, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, could not help but feel a bit panicked under the King's Consort's warning and the Queen's stare.
The Royal Family does not have the right to interfere with the Cabinet, but they do have the right to influence it.
Every subsequent word would be crucial for Palmerston's career, demanding him to respond more cautiously.
"Your Highness, the French envoy hopes the United Kingdom can recognize the French Republic!" Palmerston decisively informed Albert of the day's events.
"So, Viscount, what is your opinion?" Prince Albert gazed at Palmerston, speaking steadily.
"I believe the United Kingdom should be more cautious; we should neither recognize nor oppose it (the French Republic)!" Palmerston replied thoughtfully.
Albert, listening to Palmerston's response, neither agreed nor opposed. He picked up a steel fork and lightly tapped the snail's shell, seemingly talking to himself, "The hard exterior shell can actually be broken with some external force! Our neighbor also needs some external force to change; a continuously revolutionary republic is not well-liked by Europe!"
Palmerston immediately understood Albert's implication, and his heart sympathized with the head of the republic across the shore, Lamartine.
"By the way!" Prince Albert began, "Viscount, do you know Jerome Bonaparte?"
Palmerston was taken aback for a moment and responded, "Your Highness, are you referring to Napoleon's brother, Jerome Bonaparte?"
"No!" Prince Albert shook his head and said, "I mean Jerome Bonaparte's son!"
"Sorry! I am not very knowledgeable about the younger generation of the House of Bonaparte." Palmerston committed Jerome Bonaparte to memory.
"It seems this fellow will likely become the new leader of the Bonaparte Clan and be active in politics!" Prince Albert murmured to himself, "The bloodline of the Bonaparte Clan is truly inseparable from politics!"
"Your Highness, does the United Kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs..." Palmerston immediately grasped Prince Albert's intention.
Prince Albert lightly shook his head and responded, "If the situation in France is as you say, nothing we do will be effective! Such actions might instead provoke our neighbor's resentment; a single idle move could sometimes yield unexpected results. We need not pay excessive attention."
"Yes!" Palmerston responded.
"Tell us about the situation in Russia! Is our European gendarme jumping around again to maintain his exquisite 'toy'!" Albert said with a mocking tone.
Since the Vienna Congress of 1815, for over 30 years, the Holy Alliance led by the Russian Empire has been busy defending the monarchical order of Europe, while the United Kingdom's stance shifted from support to resentment.
The greedy Slavs, under the guise of maintaining the Holy Alliance, have invaded an unknown amount of land, and what they have done is the work of Eastern European aggressors, despite calling themselves the gendarme of Europe.
The Holy Alliance indeed needs reform!
"Since revolutions have occurred successively in Austria and Prussia, the Russian envoy in Britain has conveyed Nicholas's orders..." Palmerston informed Prince Albert of the Russian Empire's troop movements following the February Revolution, and its intention to control the Duchy of Wallachia aside from intervening in the revolution.
"It seems Tsar Nicholas is still indulging in his fantasies!" Prince Albert said calmly, "The watcher of Europe appears to be unable to stop him!"
"Indeed!" Palmerston couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The once-great Ottoman Empire is already on the brink of decline, and the Near East seems to have no country able to stop its strides.
However, Britain is not yet prepared for war with the Russian Empire.
"We need a friend who can restrain a particular country! Even if this friend has done certain things in the past..." Prince Albert said tactfully.
Palmerston immediately understood, and the two exchanged smiles, remaining silent for a long time.
...
PS: 1. Following the February Revolution in 1848, Lamartine, the interim head of the Second Republic, first addressed European countries with an 'Appeal to Europe,' promising France's recognition of the facts established by the 1815 Vienna Congress, and in April, dispatched a special envoy to convey goodwill to the Duke of Wellington in the United Kingdom, hoping the United Kingdom would recognize the newborn republic.