Editing Prince Rupert of the Rhine (section)

===Restoration statesman===
Rupert was appointed to the [[Privy Council of England|King's Privy Council]] in 1662, taking roles on the [[Foreign policy|Foreign Affairs]] Committee, the Admiralty Committee and the [[English Tangier|Tangier]] Committee.<ref>Kitson, p. 138.</ref> Accounts vary of Rupert's role in all these committees of government. [[Samuel Pepys]], no friend of Rupert's, sat on the Tangier Committee with him and later declared that all Rupert did was to laugh and swear occasionally: other records, such as those of the Foreign Affairs Committee, show him taking a full and active role in proceedings.<ref name="Kitson, p.139"/>

In 1668, the King appointed Rupert to be the [[Constable of Windsor Castle]].<ref>Spencer, p. 326.</ref> Rupert was already one of the [[Knights of the Garter]], who had their headquarters at the castle, and was a close companion of the King, who would wish to be suitably entertained at the castle.<ref>Spencer, p. 327.</ref> Rupert immediately began to reorder the castle's defences, sorting out the garrison's accommodation, repairing the Devil's Tower, reconstructing the [[real tennis]] court and improving the castle's hunting estate.<ref>Spencer, pp. 327–9.</ref> Rupert acquired his own apartments in the castle, which were recorded as being "very singular" with some decorated with an "extraordinary" number of "pikes, muskets, pistols, bandoliers, holsters, drums, back, breast, and head pieces", and his inner chambers "hung with tapisserie, curious and effeminate pictures".<ref name="Spencer, p.331">Spencer, p. 331.</ref> King Charles II and Rupert spent much time together over the years hunting and playing tennis together at Windsor,<ref>Spencer, p. 329.</ref> and Rupert was also a close companion of James, the Duke of York.<ref name="Kitson, p.139"/> Rupert was considered by Pepys to be among the four best tennis players in England.<ref>Spencer, p. 330.</ref>

Rupert became romantically engaged to Frances Bard (1646–1708), the daughter of the English explorer and Civil War veteran [[Henry Bard]].<ref>Spencer, pp. 310–1.</ref> Frances claimed to have secretly married Rupert in 1664, although this was denied by him and no firm proof exists to support the claim.<ref>Spencer, p. 311.</ref> Rupert acknowledged the son he had with Frances, Dudley Bard (1666–86), often called "Dudley Rupert", who was schooled at [[Eton College]]. In 1673, Rupert was urged by Charles Louis to return home, marry and father an heir to the Palatinate, as it appeared likely that Charles Louis's own son would not survive childhood. Rupert refused, and remained in England.<ref name="Kitson, p.296">Kitson, p. 296.</ref>