Editing William IV (section)

=== Foreign policy ===
William distrusted foreigners, particularly anyone French,<ref>Allen, p. 205; Ziegler, p. 223.</ref> which he acknowledged as a "prejudice".<ref>Sir Herbert Taylor writing to Lord Grey, 1 May 1832, quoted in Ziegler, p. 224.</ref> He also felt strongly that Britain should not interfere in the internal affairs of other states, which brought him into conflict with the interventionist [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|foreign secretary]], [[Lord Palmerston]].<ref>Ziegler, p. 225.</ref> William supported [[Belgian independence]] and, after unacceptable [[William II of the Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours|French candidates]] were put forward, favoured [[Leopold I of Belgium|Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]], the widower of his niece Charlotte, as a candidate for the newly created Belgian throne.<ref>Ziegler, p. 227.</ref>

Though he had a reputation for tactlessness and buffoonery, William could be shrewd and diplomatic. He foresaw that the potential construction of a [[Suez Canal|canal at Suez]] would make good relations with [[Egypt Eyalet|Egypt]] vital to Britain.<ref>William writing to Palmerston, 1 June 1833, quoted in Ziegler, p. 234.</ref> Later in his reign, he flattered the American ambassador at a dinner by announcing that he regretted not being "born a free, independent American, so much did he respect that nation, which had given birth to [[George Washington]], the greatest man that ever lived".<ref>Ziegler, p. 292.</ref> By exercising his personal charm, William assisted in the repair of Anglo-American relations, which had been so deeply damaged during the reign of his father.<ref>Allen, p. 229.</ref>