Complex sentence: The Duchess and Conroy continued to be unpopular with the Royal Family, and in 1829, the Duke of Cumberland spread rumours that they were lovers in an attempt to discredit them.
Split into simpler sentences: The Duchess and Conroy continued to be unpopular with the Royal Family. In 1829, the Duke of Cumberland spread rumours that the Duchess and Conroy were lovers in an attempt to discredit them.