Editing Charles Albert of Sardinia (section)

=== Visit to Paris and return to Turin ===
[[File:Castello di Racconigi.jpg|thumb|left|The facade of [[Castle of Racconigi|Racconigi Castle]], the preferred residence of Prince Charles Albert]]
[[File:Carlo Alberto di Savoia (a cavallo).jpg|thumb|200px|Charles Albert returns to Turin in February 1824, after the Spanish Expedition in this painting by [[Horace Vernet]], 1834]]
With the dissolution of the expeditionary force, Charles Albert travelled from [[Seville]] to Paris, arriving on 3 December 1823. In the French capital, he participated in balls, receptions, and parties, and developed a close relationship with [[Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Sicile, duchesse de Berry|Marie Caroline]], widow of the Duc de Berry. On 15 December, King [[Louis XVIII]] held a grand reception for the victors of Trocadero, at which Charles Albert was among the guests of honour.<ref>The event involved a very large dinner. Charles Albert generally ate very little and noted a certain "terror" at such occasions. {{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=142–144}}</ref>

King Charles Felix of Sardinia decided that, as a result of his success, it was time for Charles Albert to return to Turin. The prince was required to swear "to respect and religiously maintain all the fundamental laws of the monarchy when I ascend to power, which have led to fortune and glory over the centuries." On 29 January 1824, Charles Albert received permission to depart for Turin. At a final meeting with Louis XVIII, he received some advice on rulership and was enrolled in the [[Order of the Holy Spirit]], the most prestigious chivalrous order of the French monarchy.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=144–145}}</ref>

On 2 February, Charles Albert departed and on the 6th he reached [[Mont Cenis]], where he received orders to enter Turin by night, in order to avoid protests. Charles Albert did so, probably on the 23rd.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=145–146}}</ref> Once he had returned to Turin, Charles Albert resided mainly at [[Castle of Racconigi|Racconigi Castle]], where he began preparations for reigning. He began to study a subject which received little attention at court – the economy – and in 1829 he received permission to visit Sardinia. As a result of this visit, he gained an accurate understanding of the conditions on the island. He was a prolific writer. In 1827, along with his wife, he wrote 38 fairy tales for their children in French, the language which the family used at home, entitled ''Contes moraux'' ("Moral Tales"). The next year, he tried his hand at comedy and after that, he occupied himself with literary criticism and history. He would publish three works: ''Notes on the [[Waldensians]]'', ''Records of [[Andalusia]]'' and ''Voyage to Sardinia''. Charles Albert regretted all of these and subsequently ordered them to be withdrawn from circulation. He also wrote a great volume of letters and literary exercises.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=153–156}}</ref>

Despite the conservative attitudes of the period, Charles Albert supported literati who held liberal ideas, such as [[Carlo Giuseppe Guglielmo Botta]], whose books were banned in Piedmont. He owned the works of [[Adam Smith]] and the ''Collection of Classic Italian Writers on Political Economy'', edited by [[Pietro Custodi]], a supporter of Napoleon.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|p=156}}</ref>