Echochambers are definitely a thing, and so are rationalizations, though I would give Fredersdorf a bit more room for keeping a slightly Fritz-differing judgment, not necessarily in this particular case but with the family in general, simply because he‘s got to interact with everyone‘s staff all the time and thus might see them from this pov as well. (Also, I think that when for example getting EC‘s plaintive requests to know whether or not she‘s supposed/allowed to attend events the sisters get to attend without a problem, he does see this is screwed up, it‘s just that he doesn‘t intend to do anything about it - beyond making sure all the arrangements for rooms work and EC gets her yes/no reply from Fritz in time - because it can‘t be helped, and EC at a distance works best for Fritz.)
However, Cahn raises an important point by asking: Like, if everyone on the street and his brother is all "Geez, AW got a terrible deal here," I can see Fredersdorf's internal reaction being very different than if everyone's all "The One King!" and the only thing he ever hears about it is Fritz complaining about how his siblings are out to get him.
This made me remember Lehndorff‘s slightly hipster attitude when ca. 1758 tout Berlin turns into Heinrich fans, i.e. „hey, I loved him first, and did so when you lot were all just gossiping about his favourites and lifestyle!“. Now, I think in terms of court and upper society, there was this attitude in 1749:
Divine Trio, i.e. all three princes: throw really good parties. Crown Prince AW already ensured the dynasty won‘t die out, well done he, and he‘s the best looking of the lot, but also a bit of a horndog. Did you hear about him and Fräulein von Pannwitz/Countess X/Lady Y? Well, we can‘t all be geniuses like the King, I suppose, and better he gets it out of his system now than when he gets to the throne. Which hopefully will be a looooong while from now. Our King is awesome! As for Prince Heinrich: There‘s one in every family, isn‘t there. He‘s gonna be the Prussian Philippe d‘ Orleans, all favourites and debts. Yes, I‘ve heard he wasn‘t doing too badly in the last Silesian War, but come on, Philippe d‘ Orleans was in a few battles, too. Thank God he‘s not getting anywhere near the throne, though, or it would be one weak monarch ruled by boytoys, ugh. What‘s that I hear, he‘s going to be married? Don‘t think that‘ll help, but hey, we‘re getting another royal wedding out of it.
So basically: most public sympathy will be on Fritz‘ side. It might be slightly different within the army, depending on whether Ferdinand is correct in his report that several officers have offered their resignation rather than be targets for Fritz‘ bad mood. AW was in charge of all the revues at Spandau at that point and was popular with the officers, including with the older FW remembering lot (favourite son et al, was enthusiastic about soldiers as a kid, bless); Heinrich was probably thought of as okay, and among those few who were witnesses to him distinguishing himself in the later second Silesian war as worthy of being the One King‘s brother, but definitely not on a level with the genius who got them Silesia, and hey, maybe marrying will help him be a bit more discreet with the boytoys. What‘s hard about marrying a beautiful woman anyway? We should be so lucky. Etc.
As to whether Fredersdorf reads Fritz‘ private family correspondance: in peacetime, I‘m going with „no“, not unless Fritz explicitly tells him to. He might have to in war time in case it‘s urgent, because it would take too long since Fritz is in the field, but not in peace time.
Re: Brotherly Conduct I: The Prelude
However, Cahn raises an important point by asking:
Like, if everyone on the street and his brother is all "Geez, AW got a terrible deal here," I can see Fredersdorf's internal reaction being very different than if everyone's all "The One King!" and the only thing he ever hears about it is Fritz complaining about how his siblings are out to get him.
This made me remember Lehndorff‘s slightly hipster attitude when ca. 1758 tout Berlin turns into Heinrich fans, i.e. „hey, I loved him first, and did so when you lot were all just gossiping about his favourites and lifestyle!“. Now, I think in terms of court and upper society, there was this attitude in 1749:
Divine Trio, i.e. all three princes: throw really good parties. Crown Prince AW already ensured the dynasty won‘t die out, well done he, and he‘s the best looking of the lot, but also a bit of a horndog. Did you hear about him and Fräulein von Pannwitz/Countess X/Lady Y? Well, we can‘t all be geniuses like the King, I suppose, and better he gets it out of his system now than when he gets to the throne. Which hopefully will be a looooong while from now. Our King is awesome! As for Prince Heinrich: There‘s one in every family, isn‘t there. He‘s gonna be the Prussian Philippe d‘ Orleans, all favourites and debts. Yes, I‘ve heard he wasn‘t doing too badly in the last Silesian War, but come on, Philippe d‘ Orleans was in a few battles, too. Thank God he‘s not getting anywhere near the throne, though, or it would be one weak monarch ruled by boytoys, ugh. What‘s that I hear, he‘s going to be married? Don‘t think that‘ll help, but hey, we‘re getting another royal wedding out of it.
So basically: most public sympathy will be on Fritz‘ side. It might be slightly different within the army, depending on whether Ferdinand is correct in his report that several officers have offered their resignation rather than be targets for Fritz‘ bad mood. AW was in charge of all the revues at Spandau at that point and was popular with the officers, including with the older FW remembering lot (favourite son et al, was enthusiastic about soldiers as a kid, bless); Heinrich was probably thought of as okay, and among those few who were witnesses to him distinguishing himself in the later second Silesian war as worthy of being the One King‘s brother, but definitely not on a level with the genius who got them Silesia, and hey, maybe marrying will help him be a bit more discreet with the boytoys. What‘s hard about marrying a beautiful woman anyway? We should be so lucky. Etc.
As to whether Fredersdorf reads Fritz‘ private family correspondance: in peacetime, I‘m going with „no“, not unless Fritz explicitly tells him to. He might have to in war time in case it‘s urgent, because it would take too long since Fritz is in the field, but not in peace time.