the activities of the set boosted the popularity of the prince with the general public. Mordaunt affair Sir Charles Mordaunt, 10th Baronet had married, in 1866, the 18-year-old Harriett Moncreiffe. Edward and other members of the set were attracted to her and Mordaunt discovered that Edward was regularly visiting his wife in London and in the country. Lady Mordaunt confessed to her husband that her first child, born in 1869, was not his and the eye condition it suffered from was the result of venereal disease caught from a lover, naming Edward, Lord Cole. In 1869 Sir Charkes filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery, naming Cole, Sir Frederick Johnstone and an unnamed man as co-respondents. Popular opinion was that the Prince of Wales was the un-named co-respondent. Although not cited, the prince was compelled to appear before the court as a witness. Lady Mordaunt was considered insane and confined to institutional care for the rest of her life; a divorce could not be granted until a change in the law in 1875. Prince Edward was afterwards featured in popular songs claiming him to be cuckolding the aristocracy. Aylesford scandal George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, his brother, Lord Randolph Churchill and his wife Lady Randolph Churchill were members of the set until Blandford had an affair with Edith, wife of the Earl of Aylesford, who were also members of the set. The pair fell in love and proposed to live together, writing to Aylesford whilst he was on a visit to India with Edward in 1875. Edward, who had also had an affair with Edith, supported Aylesford in his quest for a divorce. Randolph got access to love letters that had been sent by Edward to Edith and showed them to the Princess of Wales, hoping to pressure her into persuading her husband to end his support for a divorce. A duel between Edward and Randolph was narrowly avoided. The prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli, persuaded Aylesford to avoid a divorce trial which might have involved Edward giving evidence. Royal baccarat scandal The Royal baccarat scandal broke in 1890 after a game of baccarat played by members of the set, including Prince Edward, at Tranby Croft in Yorkshire. They had visited the house for the racing at nearby Doncaster racecourse. During the event one of the players, Sir William Gordon-Cumming, 4th Baronet, was accused of cheating. After consultation with the