At this time William III had the pain of losing one of his nearest and dearest friends in a way that amazed the world. William Bentinck, Earl of Portland, his trusted friend in all the complications of his life, and his second self, could not be persuaded to remain in his service.

The proximate cause for this was that Bentinck's rooms at Newmarket, which were close to the royal apartments, had, during his absence in France, been given up to another of the King's friends, Joost Keppel, who already held high rank in England, having been created Earl of Albemarle. Portland, on his return, wished to resume his old quarters; but Albemarle, who had fitted them up with his own house-hold-stuff, refused to go out: the King decided in his favour.

It almost looks as if favour and confidence, like love, were indivisible: at all events, every one who has them in part wants to have them exclusively. Portland, who had already long noted with jealousy the growing favour shown to his rival, now declared himself determined to resign his office as Chamberlain; when the court came back from Newmarket, early in 1699, he appeared without the accustomed badge.