Текст книги "Britain's Royal Families"
Автор книги: Элисон Уир
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George I
FATHER: Ernest Augustus
He was the son of George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneberg, by Anne Eleanor, daughter of Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and he was born on 20 or 30 November, 1629/30, at Herzberg, Germany. He married Sophia of Bohemia on 30 September, 1658, at the Castle Chapel, Heidelberg, Germany. He was elected Prince Bishop of Osnabrück in 1661, and succeeded his father as Duke of Hanover and Brunswick-Lüneberg in 1679; he was created Elector of Hanover in 1692 (this conferred upon him the right to elect the German Emperor). He died on 23 January, 1698, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover, and was buried in the Chapel of the Leine Schloss, Hanover. His remains were later removed to the Chapel of Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover.
Ernest perhaps had the following illegitimate issue:
By Clara Elizabeth Meisenburg, wife of Francis Ernest, Count von Platen:
1 Sophia Charlotte, Countess of Platen, Baroness von Kielmansegge, Countess of Leinster, Baroness of Brentford, and Countess of Darlington (1673?–1725). She later became the mistress of her half-brother, George I.
2 George Louis.
3 Charles Augustus.
4 Caroline.
By the Marchesa Paleotti of Bologna:
5 Unnamed son.
6 Laura (?).
MOTHER: Sophia
She was the daughter of Frederick V, King of Bohemia and Elector Palatine of the Rhine, by Elizabeth, daughter of James I, and she was born on 13/14 October, 1630, at the Wassenaer Court Palace, The Hague, Holland. She died on 8 or 14 June, 1714, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover, and was buried in the Chapel of the Leine Schloss, Hanover. Her remains were later removed to the family vault in the Chapel of Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover.
SIBLINGS:
1 Frederick Augustus
He was born on 3 October, 1661, at Hanover, Germany. He was killed on 31 December, 1690 (O.S.) or 10 January, 1691 (N.S.), fighting the Turks at the Battle of St Georgen, Siebenbürgen, Transylvania.
2 Stillborn twins
They were born in February, 1664, at Heidelberg, Germany.
3 Maximilian William
He was born on 13 (O.S.) or 23 (N.S.) December, 1666, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover, and died on 16 (O.S.) or 27 (N.S.) July, 1726, at Vienna, Austria.
4 Stillborn son
He was the twin of Maximilian, and was born in December, 1666, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover.
5 Sophia Charlotte
She was born on 12 October, 1668, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover. She married Frederick III of Brandenburg, later Frederick I King of Prussia (1657–1713), on 8 or 28 September, 1684, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover, and had issue:
1 Frederick Augustus (1685–1686).
2 Unnamed son ( b.& d.1687).
3 Frederick William I, King of Prussia (1688–1740); he married Sophia Dorothea, daughter of George I, and had issue.
Sophia died on 21 January (O.S.) or 1 February (N.S.), 1705, at Hanover, and was buried in the Royal Chapel, Berlin, Germany.
6 Charles Philip
He was born on 3 or 13 October, 1669, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover. He was killed on 31 December, 1690, or 1 January, 1691, fighting the Turks at the Battle of Pristina, Albania.
7 Christian
He was born on 19 or 29 September, 1671, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover. He drowned on 31 July, 1703, in the River Danube, near Ulm, during the Battle of Munderkingen.
8 Ernest Augustus
He was born on 7 (O.S.) or 17 (N.S.) September, 1674, at Osnabrück, Hanover. He was elected Prince Bishop of Osnabrück in 1715. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 3 July, 1716, and was created Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster on 5 July, 1716. He died on 14 August, 1728, at Osnabrück, Hanover.
GEORGE I
Baptised George Louis, he was born on 28 May (O.S.) or 7 June (N.S.), 1660, at Osnabrück, Hanover. He succeeded his father as Duke and Elector of Hanover on 23 January, 1698. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 18 June, 1701, and was naturalised as a British subject in 1705. He succeeded his third cousin, Queen Anne, as King of Great Britain on 1 August, 1714, and adopted the style King of Hanover also on the same day. He was crowned on 20 October, 1714, in Westminster Abbey.
George I married, on 21 November, 1682, at Celle Castle Chapel, Germany:
Sophia Dorothea
She was the daughter of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneberg-Celle, by Eleanor, Countess of Williamsburg, daughter of Alexander II d’Olbreuse, Marquess of Desmiers, and she was born on 3 February, 5 September or 15 September, 1666, at Celle Castle, Germany. She was divorced by Prince George on 28 December, 1694, on the grounds of her adultery with Count Philip Christopher von Königsmarck. She was forbidden to remarry, and was confined to the Castle of Ahlden for the rest of her life, being styled Duchess of Ahlden from February, 1695. She was never Queen of England. She died on 2 (O.S.) or 13 (N.S.) November, 1726, at the Castle of Ahlden, Hanover, Germany, and was buried in Celle Church, Germany.
Issue of marriage:
1 George II( 
see here).
2 Sophia Dorothea
She was born on 16 (O.S.) or 26 (N.S.) March, 1685 or 1687, at Hanover. She married Frederick William of Prussia, later Frederick William I, King of Prussia (1688–1740), firstly on 17 November, 1706, at Hanover, and secondly on 28 November, 1706, at Berlin, Prussia, and had issue:
1
Frederick Louis (1707–1708).
2
Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina (1709–1758); she married Henry or Frederick, Margrave of Bayreuth (1711–1763), and had issue.
3
Frederick William, Prince of Orange (1710–1711).
4
(Charles) Frederick II ‘the Great’, King of Prussia (1712–1786); he married Elizabeth Christina (1715–1797), daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
5
Charlotte Albertine (1713–1714).
6
Frederica Louisa (1714–1784); she married Charles William Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1712–1757), and had issue.
7
Philippina Charlotte (1716–1801); she married Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1713–1780), and had issue.
8
Louis Charles William (1717–1719).
9
Sophia Dorothea Maria (1719–1765); she married Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1700–1771), and had issue.
10
Louisa Ulrica (1720–1782); she married Adolphus Frederick of Gottorp, King of Sweden (1710–1771), and had issue.
11
Augustus William (1722–1758); he married Louisa Amelia (1722–1780), daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and had issue.
12
Anne Amalia, Abbess of Quedlinburg (1723–1787).
13
Frederick Henry Louis (1726–1802); he married Wilhelmina (1726–1808), daughter of Maximilian, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel.
14
Augustus Ferdinand (1730–1813); he married Louisa (1738–1820), daughter of Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, and had issue.
Sophia Dorothea died on 28 or 29 June, 1757, at Monbijou Palace near Berlin, Prussia, and was buried at Potsdam, Germany.
George I also had the following illegitimate issue:
By Ermengarde Melusina (1667–1743), Baroness von der Schulenberg, Duchess of Kendal, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, Baron von der Schulenberg:
1 Petronilla Melusina, Baroness of Aldborough and Countess of Walsingham (1693?–1778); she married Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773).
2 Margaret Gertrude (1703–1773); she married Count von Lippe.
GEORGE I
He died on 28 May (O.S.) or 11 June (N.S.), 1727, near Osnabrück, Hanover, of the effects of a stroke. He was buried in the Chapel of the Leine Schloss, Hanover, but was transferred to the Chapel vaults of Schloss Herrenhausen after the Second World War. He was succeeded by his son George.
George II
FATHER: George I( see here).
MOTHER: Sophia Dorothea of Celle( see here, under George I).
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under George I).
GEORGE II
Baptised George Augustus, he was born on 30 October (O.S.) or 9 November (N.S.), 1683, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. He was naturalised as a British subject in 1705, and was made a Knight of the Garter on 4 April, 1706. He was created Duke and Marquess of Cambridge, Earl of Milford Haven, Viscount Northallerton and Baron of Tewkesbury on 9 November, 1706. He became Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay when his father succeeded to the throne of Great Britain on 1 August, 1714, and was created and invested Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 27 September, 1714, at the Palace of Westminster. He succeeded his father as King of Great Britain on 28 May (O.S.) or 11 June (N.S.), 1727, and was crowned on 11 October, 1727, at Westminster Abbey.
George II married, on 22 August (O.S.) or 2 September (N.S.), 1705, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover:
(Wilhelmina Charlotte) Caroline
Known by her last Christian name, she was the daughter of John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, by Eleanor Erdmuthe Louisa, daughter of John George, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach. She was born on 1/2 (O.S.) or 11 (N.S.) March, 1683, at Ansbach, Germany. She was crowned on 11 October, 1727, at Westminster Abbey. She died on 20 November, 1737, at St James’s Palace, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Issue of marriage:
1 Frederick Louis
He was born on 20 January (O.S.) or 1 February (N.S.), 1707, at Hanover, Germany. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 3 July, 1716, and was created Duke of Gloucester on 10 January, 1717. He became Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay when his father succeeded to the throne of Great Britain on 11 June, 1727. He was created Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Eltham, Viscount of Launceston, and Baron of Snowdon on 26 July, 1727. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 8 January, 1729. He died on 20 (O.S.) or 31 (N.S.) March, 1751, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Frederick had the following illegitimate issue:
By Anne (1705–1736), daughter of Gilbert Vane, Baron Barnard:
1 FitzFrederick Vane (1732–1736).
By Margaret, Comtesse de Marsac:
2 Charles Marsack (1736–1820).
Frederick married, on 27 April (O.S.) or 8 May (N.S.), 1736, at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London:
Augusta
She was the daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, by Magdalena Augusta, daughter of Charles William, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and she was born on 20 (O.S.) or 30 (N.S.) November, 1719, at Gotha, Germany. She died on 8 February, 1772, at Carlton House, London, of cancer, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Issue of marriage:
(i)
Augusta
She was born on 31 July, 1737, at St James’s Palace, London. She married Charles II (William Ferdinand), Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1735–1806), at the Chapel Royal, St
James’s Palace, on 16 January, 1764, and had issue:
1 Augustina Caroline Frederica Louise (1764–1788); she married Frederick I (William Charles), King of Württemberg (1754–1816) (who afterwards married Charlotte, daughter of George III), and had issue.
2 Charles George Augustus (1766–1806); he married Frederica Louise Wilhelmina (1770–1819), daughter of William V, Prince of Orange.
3 Caroline Amelia Elizabeth; she married George IV, King of Great Britain (
see here
, under George IV).
4 George William Christian (1769–1811).
5 Augustus (1770–1820).
6 Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1771–1815); he married Mary Elizabeth Wilhelmina (1782–1808), daughter of Prince Charles Louis of Baden, and had issue.
7 Amelia Caroline Dorothea Louise (1772–1773).
Augusta died on 23 March, 1813, at her house in Hanover Square, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
(ii)
George III
(
see here
).
(iii)
Edward Augustus
He was born on 14 March, 1739, at Norfolk House, St James’s Square, London. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 13 March, 1752, and was created Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster on 1 April, 1760. He died on 17 September, 1767, at Monaco, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(iv)
Elizabeth Caroline
She was born on 30 December, 1740, at Norfolk House, St James’s Square, London. She died on 4 September, 1759, at Kew Palace, Surrey, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(v)
William Henry
He was born on 14 November, 1743, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 27 May, 1762, and was created Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Earl of Connaught on 19 November, 1764. He died on 25 August, 1805, at Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
William had the following illegitimate issue:
By Lady Almeria Carpenter:
1 Louisa Maria (1762–1835); she married Godfrey Bosville MacDonald, 3rd Baron of Slate, and had issue.
William married, on 6 September, 1766, at her father’s house in Pall Mall, London:
Maria
She was the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Walpole by Dorothy, daughter of Hammond Clement of Darlington or Durham, and she was born shortly before 10 July, 1736, at Westminster, London. She married firstly James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave (1714–1763), on 15 May, 1759, at her father’s house in Pall Mall, London, and had issue:
1 Elizabeth Laura (1760–1816), Countess Waldegrave; she married George Waldegrave, 4th Earl Waldegrave (1751–1789), and had issue.
2 Charlotte Maria (1761–1808); she married George Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Grafton (1760–1844), and had issue.
3 Anne Horatia (1762–1801); she married Admiral Sir Hugh Seymour (1759–1801), and had issue.
Maria died on 22/23 August, 1807, at Oxford Lodge, Brompton, Middlesex, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Issue of marriage:
(a)
Sophia Matilda
She was born on 29 May, 1773, at Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London. She died on 29 November, 1844, at the Ranger’s House, Blackheath, Kent, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
(b)
Caroline Augusta Maria
She was born on 24 June, 1774, at Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London, and died there on 14 March, 1775. She was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
(c)
William Frederick
He was born on 15 January, 1776, at the Tedoli Palace, Rome, Italy. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 16 July, 1794. He succeeded his father as Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Earl of Connaught on 25 August,
1805. He died on 30 November, 1834, at Bagshot Park, Surrey, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
William married, on 22 July, 1816, at the Private Chapel, Buckingham Palace, London:
Mary
She was the daughter of George III, King of Great Britain, by Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and she was born on 25 April, 1776, at Buckingham Palace. She died on 30 April 1857, at Gloucester House, Piccadilly, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. There was no issue of the marriage.
(vi)
Henry Frederick
He was born on 27 October, 1745, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. He was created Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Earl of Dublin on 22 October, 1766, and was made a Knight of the Garter on 21 December, 1767. He died on 18 September, 1790, at Cumberland House, Pall Mall, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Henry is alleged, on circumstantial evidence, to have married privately, either on 4 March (?), 1767, or in 1770:
Olivia
She was the daughter of the Reverend D. James Wilmot. She died on 5 December, 1774.
Alleged issue of marriage:
(a)
Olivia
Known as ‘Princess Olivia of Cumberland’; she was born on 3 April, 1772. She married John Thomas Serres on I September, 1791, and had issue:
1 Lavinia Janetta Horton (1797–1871); she married Antony Thomas Ryves, and had issue.
2 Daughter.
Olivia died before 3 December, 1834 (date of burial), and was buried in St James’s Church, Westminster.
Henry certainly did marry, on 2 October, 1771, at her house in Hertford Street, Mayfair, London (the which marriage was bigamous if Henry had actually married Olivia Wilmot):
Anne
She was the daughter of Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton, by Judith Maria, daughter of Sir Nicholas Lawes, and she was born on 24 January, 1742/3, in the Parish of St Marylebone, London. She married firstly Christopher Horton of Catton Hall, Derbyshire, on 4 August, 1765, and had issue:
1 Son (name not known) (
d
. young).
Anne died on 28 December, 1808, or in February, 1809, at Trieste, Italy. There was no issue of her marriage to Henry.
(vii)
Louisa Anne
She was born on 8 March, 1749, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. She died on 13 May, 1768, at Carlton House, Mayfair, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(viii)
Frederick William
He was born on 13 May, 1750, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. He died there on 29 December, 1765, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(ix)
Caroline Matilda
She was born on 11 July, 1751, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. She married Christian VII, King of Denmark (1749–1808), by proxy on 1 October, 1766, at Carlton House, London. and in person on 8 November, 1766, at Schloss Frederiksberg, or at Christianborg, Denmark, and had issue:
1 Frederick VI, King of Denmark (1768–1839); he married Mary Sophia Frederica (1767–1852), daughter of Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, and had issue.
2 Louise Augusta (1771–1843); she married Frederick Christian II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1765–1814), and had issue. Although recognised as the legitimate daughter of Christian VII, Louise was without doubt the daughter of Queen Caroline by her lover, Count Struensee: her portraits bear this out most strikingly when compared to those of Struensee.
Caroline was crowned Queen Consort of Denmark on 1 May, 1767. She was divorced on 6 April, 1772, on the grounds of her adultery with Count John Frederick Struensee (1737 executed
1772). She died on 10 May, 1775, at Celle Castle, Hanover, and was buried in Celle Church.
2 Anne
She was born on 9 or 22 (O.S.) October or 2 November (N.S.), 1709, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. She was styled Princess Royal from c.30 August, 1727. She married William IV (Charles Henry Friso), Prince of Orange (1711–1751) on 14 (O.S.) or 24/25 (N.S.) March, 1734, at the Chapel Royal St James’s Palace, and had issue:
1 Unnamed son ( b.& d.1735).
2 Unnamed daughter ( b.& d.1736).
3 Unnamed daughter ( b.& d.1739).
4 Wilhelmina Caroline (1743–1787); she married Charles Christian, Duke of Nassau-Weilburg (1735–1788), and had issue.
5 Anne Marie ( b.& d.1746).
6 William V (Batavus), Prince of Orange (1748–1806); he married Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina (1751–1820), daughter of Prince Augustus William of Prussia, and had issue.
Anne died on 2 (O.S.) or 12 (N.S.) January, 1759, at The Hague, Holland.
3 Amelia Sophia Eleanor
Known as Emily, she was born on 30 May (O.S.) or 10 June (N.S.), 1711, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. She died on 31 October, 1786, at her house in Cavendish Square, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
4 Caroline Elizabeth
She was born on 30 May (O.S.) or 10 June (N.S.), 1713, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. She died on 28 December, 1757, at St James’s Palace, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
5 Stillborn son
He was born on 9 November, 1716, at St James’s Palace, London.
6 George William
He was born on 2/3 November, 1717, at St James’s Palace, London. He is sometimes referred to as the Duke of Gloucester, but there is no evidence that he was ever so styled, designated or formally created. He died on 6 February, 1718, at Kensington Palace, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
7 Miscarriage
This occurred in 1718.
8 William Augustus
He was born on 15 April, 1721, either at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London, or – less probably – at St James’s Palace, London. He was made a Knight of the Bath on 27 May, 1725, and was created Duke of Cumberland, Marquess of Berkhamstead, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon, and Baron of Alderney on 27 July, 1726. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 18 May, 1730. He died unmarried on 31 October, 1765, at his house in Upper Grosvenor Street, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
William is said, without reliable evidence, to have had three illegitimate children by the daughter of a Scottish soldier.
9 Mary
She was born on 22 February (O.S.) or 5 March (N.S.), 1723, at Leicester House, St Martins-in-the-Fields, London. She married Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (1720–1785), by proxy on 8 (O.S.) or 19 (N.S.) May, 1740, at St James’s Palace, London, and in person on 28 June, 1740, at Cassel, Germany, and had issue:
1 William (1741–1742).
2 William IX, Landgrave and Elector of Hesse-Cassel (1743–1821); he married Wilhelmina Caroline (1747–1820), daughter of Frederick V, King of Denmark by Louisa, daughter of George II ( see here), and had issue.
3 Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (1744–1836); he married Louisa (1750–1831), daughter of Frederick V, King of Denmark, by Louisa, daughter of George II ( below), and had issue.
4 Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (1747–1837); he married Caroline Polyxena (1762–1823), daughter of Charles William, Prince of Nassau-Usingen, and had issue, including Augusta, wife of Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, son of George III.
Mary died on 14 or 16 January, 1772, at Hanau, Germany.
10 Louisa
She was born on 7 December, 1724, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. She married Frederick V, King of Denmark and Norway (1723–1766), by proxy on 27 or 30 October, 1743, at Hanover, Germany, and in person on 11 December, 1743, at Altona, near Hamburg, Germany and had issue:
1 Christian (1745–1747).
2 Sophia Magdalena (1746–1813); she married Gustavus III, King of Sweden (1746–1792), and had issue.
3 Wilhelmina Caroline (1747–1820); she married William I, Elector of Hesse-Cassel (son of Mary, daughter of George II – above) (1747–1821), and had issue.
4 Christian VII, King of Denmark (1749–1808); he married Caroline Matilda of Wales, granddaughter of George II ( see here).
5 Louisa (1750–1831); she married Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (1744–1836) (son of Mary, daughter of George II – above), and had issue.
Louisa died on 8 or 19 December, 1751, at Christianborg Castle, Copenhagen, Denmark.
George II may have had the following illegitimate issue, although the King never acknowledged him as such:
By Amalia Sophia Marianne, Countess von Walmoden and Countess of Yarmouth (1704–1765):
1 John Louis, Count von Walmoden-Gimborn (1736–1811).
GEORGE II
He died on 25 October, 1760 at Kensington Palace, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
He was succeeded by his grandson George.
George III
FATHER: Frederick, Prince of Wales( see here, under George II).
MOTHER: Augusta of Saxe-Gotha( see here, under George II).
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under George II).
GEORGE III
Baptised George William Frederick, he was born on 24 May (O.S.) or 4 June (N.S.), 1738, at Norfolk House, St James’s Square, London. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 22 June, 1749. He succeeded his father as Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Eltham, Viscount of Launceston and Baron of Snowdon on 20 March, 1751. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 20 April, 1751. He succeeded his grandfather George II as King of Great Britain on 25 October, 1760, and was crowned on 21/22 September, 1761, at Westminster Abbey. On 1 January, 1801, he relinquished for ever the title ‘King of France’, held by English Kings since Edward III laid claim to the French crown in 1340.
George III is alleged to have married secretly, on 17 April, 1759, a Quakeress called Hannah Lightfoot, daugher of a Wapping shoemaker, who is said to have borne him three children. Documents relating to the alleged marriage, bearing the Prince’s signature, were impounded and examined in 1866 by the Attorney General. Learned opinion at that time leaned to the view that these documents were genuine. They were then placed in the Royal Archives at Windsor; in 1910, permission was refused a would-be author who asked to see them. If George III did make such a marriage when he was Prince of Wales, before the passing of the Royal Marriages Act in 1772, then his subsequent marriage to Queen Charlotte was bigamous, and every monarch of Britain since has been a usurper, the rightful heirs of George III being his children by Hannah Lightfoot, if they ever existed.
George III married, bigamously or not, on 8 September, 1761, at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London:
(Sophia) Charlotte
Known as Charlotte, she was the daughter of Charles Louis Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, by Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and she was born on 19 May, 1744, at Mirow, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany. On 7 March, 1760, she was invested as a Protestant canoness of Herford (or Hervorden) in Westphalia, Germany. She was crowned Queen Consort on 21/22 September, 1761. She died on 17 November, 1818, at Kew Palace, Surrey, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Issue of marriage:
1 George lV ( see here).
2 Frederick Augustus
He was born on 16 August, 1763, at St James’s Palace, London (or, less probably, at Buckingham Palace). He was elected Prince Bishop of Osnabrück on 27 February, 1764, and was made a Knight of the Garter on 19 June, 1771. He was created Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster on 29 November, 1784. He died on 5 January, 1827, at Rutland House, Arlington Street, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Frederick had the following illegitimate issue (?):
1 Charles, Captain Hesse. There is no certain proof that Frederick actually was his father, although he was generally reputed to be. Charles was killed in a duel with Count Léon, bastard son of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French.
Frederick married, on 28 September, 1791, at Charlottenburg, Berlin, Prussia, and again on 23 November, 1791, at Buckingham Palace:
Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Katherine
She was the daughter of Frederick William II, King of Prussia, by Elizabeth Christine Ulrica, daughter of Charles, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and she was born on 7 May, 1767, either at Charlottenburg or at Potsdam, Prussia. She died on 6 August, 1820, at Oatlands Park, Weybridge, Surrey, and was buried in Weybridge Churchyard, Surrey. There was no issue of the marriage.
3 Miscarriage
This occurred in the summer of 1764 at Richmond Lodge, Surrey.
4 William IV( see here).
5 Charlotte Augusta Matilda
She was born on 29 September, 1766, at Buckingham Palace, and was styled Princess Royal from October, 1766; she was officially designated Princess Royal on 22 June, 1789. She married Frederick William Charles, Duke of Württemburg, afterwards Frederick I, King of Württemburg (1754–1816), on 18 May, 1797, at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London, and had issue:
1 Stillborn daughter; she was born on 27 April, 1798.
Charlotte became Queen Consort when her husband acceded to the throne of Württemburg on 1 January, 1806, and was crowned as such on the same day at Stuttgart, Germany. She died on 6 October, 1828, at Ludwigsburg Palace, Stuttgart, Germany, and was buried there in the Ludwigsburg family vault.
6 Edward Augustus
He was born on 2 November, 1767, at Buckingham Palace. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 2 June, 1786, and was created Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Earl of Dublin on 23 or 24 April, 1799. He died on 23 January, 1820, at Woodbrook Cottage, Sidmouth, Devon, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. His remains were later removed to the Kent Mausoleum, Frogmore, Windsor.
Edward had the following illegitimate issue:
By Adelaide Dubus:
1 Adelaide Victoria Augusta (1789–1790).
By Julie de St Laurent (?):
2 A son or sons, said to have been adopted at birth in Canada (?).
Edward married, on 29 May, 1818, at Schloss Ehrenburg, Coburg, Germany, and again on 13 July, 1818, at Kew Palace, Surrey:
( Mary Louisa) Victoria
Known as Victoria, she was the daughter of Francis I (Frederick Anthony), Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield, by Augusta Caroline Sophia, daughter of Henry XXIV, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf, and she was born on 17 August, 1786, at Coburg, Germany. She married firstly Emich Charles, 2nd Prince of Leiningen (1763–1814), on 21 December, 1803, and had issue:
1 Charles Frederick William Ernest, 3rd Prince of Leiningen (1804–1856); he married Mary, Countess of Kleklesburg (1806–1880), daughter of Maximilian, Count of Kleklesburg, and had issue, although they were afterwards divorced.
2 Anne Feodora Augusta Charlotte Wilhelmina (1807–1872); she married Ernest, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1794–1860), and had issue.
Victoria died on 16 March, 1861, at Frogmore House, Windsor, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Her remains were later removed to the Kent Mausoleum, Frogmore, Windsor.
Issue of marriage:
(i) Queen Victoria( see here).
7 Augusta Sophia
She was born on 8 November, 1768, at Buckingham Palace. She perhaps married Major General Sir Brent Spencer ( d.1828) in c.1811, but there is no substantiating evidence for this. She died on 22 September, 1840, at Clarence House, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
8 Elizabeth
She was born on 22 May, 1770, at Buckingham Palace. Some documentary evidence exists to suggest that she either married or was the mistress of a page called George Ramus in c.1785, and that they had a daughter Eliza, born in c.1786/7, who married a man called James Money. Although such a marriage would have been illegal under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, other evidence would seem to indicate that it did not take place at all, and that there was no connection whatsoever between Elizabeth and ‘George Ramus’: among 6 or 7 pages surnamed Ramus, not one was called George. Furthermore, the known details of the Princess’s illness in 1786/7 are not identifiable with the symptoms of pregnancy. Elizabeth did marry Frederick (Joseph) VI, Landgrave and Prince of Hesse-Homburg (1769–1829) on 7 April, 1818, at the Private Chapel, Buckingham Palace. She died on 10 January, 1840, at Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, and was buried in the Mausoleum of the Landgraves at Homburg, Germany.
9 Ernest Augustus
He was born on 5 June, 1771, at Buckingham Palace. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 2 June, 1786, and was created Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale and Earl of Armagh on 24 April, 1799. He succeeded his brother William IV as King of Hanover on 20 June, 1837, adopting the style Ernest I; the Salic Law governed the Hanoverian succession, thus preventing the accession of Queen Victoria. Ernest died on 18 November, 1851, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover, and was buried there in the Chapel vaults.
