Categotry Archives: George IV – The Regency
By George! Who Leads the King Now?
Last week George IV went off to Scotland at Lord Castlereagh’s suggestion for a royal vacation. When George returned, the man was dead. It would seem that Castlereagh’s suicide was not entirely a surprise. Before the King left for Scotland he had had several talks with Lord Liverpool about Castlereagh’s behavior. In one conversation he stated that “either I am mad or Lord Castlereagh is mad.” The Duke of Wellington expressed concern, Castlereagh’s brother, Lord Stewart, “had never seen a […]
By George! How to Visit Scotland
George IV became king when he was already older, and set in his ways. The difference from his Regency? Not much. . . If His Majesties problems with his Cabinet were annoying, at least they were predictable. There was something equally predictable regarding His Majesty, although he would never admit it. He easily grew bored with his girlfriends. Yes, Lady Conyngham was on her way out and she was most distraught over the situation. This made little difference to the […]
By George! He’s the Consummate Host
For the last several weeks we have been looking at a straight progression of events and George IV grows into the crown. Now, with the crown firmly on his head, and his wife firmly out of the picture, what does he do? Let’s pause to take a look. While His Majesties political life was less than satisfactory, he could take some measure of satisfaction in the fact that people who did not live in England liked him. As we have […]
By George! The Power Behind the Throne
George IV celebrated the death of his wife, Queen Caroline. What kind of mischief could he get into? At least His Majesty could take some measure of solace in the arms of a new girlfriend. He still had his old girlfriend, Lady Hurtford, but that was getting a bit stale. What with his detested wife dead and all, time for something new. Lady Conyngham was the something new. She was “a fat, kindly, religious, rich and rapacious woman of fifty-two.” […]
By George! The Lords Are… Determined?
At this point in Mr. Al’s narrative George IV has become king, but has not yet become coronated. When he began his divorce proceedings it was his desperate hope to be rid of Princess Caroline as quickly and conveniently as possible. On August 17, 1820, the House of Lords began it’s inquiry. The Queen moved to a house in St. James Square, to be close at hand. She spent so much time at a front window, waving and bowing to […]
By George! He Will Have Her Head.
When Princess Charlotte died, her mother, Princess Caroline, was off toodling around in Europe while being watched by an eager to dislodge husband, George IV. It’s hard to imagine that Princess Caroline did not know about all the people following her. What is really amazing is that she didn’t seem to care what her behavior was doing to her reputation. Said one historian; “For months past the Regent had been closely following his wife’s wild progress with intentness and disgust. […]
By George! What a Ride.
While George IV’s daughter, Charlotte, struggled with her father over whom to marry, her mother was off gallivanting around Europe. But how much trouble could a wayward princess get into? And what of Princess Caroline? When we last saw her she was skipping the country, much to Charlotte’s annoyance, while Charlotte was the unwilling guest at Cranborne Lodge. It was this act that convinced Charlotte that she had been truly abandoned to her fate. It also gave Charlotte the plan […]
By George! Who Can Provide?
When Prince Goerge IV’s only children died, England turned to his siblings for a new heir. There were certainly plenty to chose from, but who could produce? The duke of Kent was in the same boat as his brother, wife-wise. He needed to marry, but unlike the Duke of Clarence he was in no hurry to put aside his mistress, Mme de St Laurent. He considered himself so far down the list of heirs to the throne that perhaps no […]
By George! The Duke of Clarence Wants a Wife
After George IV’th daughter died. leaving no heir, England turned to George’s brothers. Unluckily, it was slim pickings there. If the Duke of Clarence knew what he was getting into while searching for a wife, he might have had second thoughts. Fortunately for you, dear reader, he didn’t, so…First to be asked was Catherine Tylney-Long, a “lovely nice little angel worth 40,000 pounds a year.” She held out for the Duke of Wellington’s nephew. Next up was the equally wealthy […]
By George! A Girl is Sprung!
The English royalty during the Regency had bad luck in marriage. Or should I say they were dysfunctional? We’ve already seen how his brother, the Duke of Cumberland made out. The next sibling to marry was a princess. Princess Mary was the Prince Regents favorite sister. She kept up a steady flow of chatty, gossip filled letters from the “nunnery” and he reciprocated with small gifts. The truly astounding thing about the marriage, however, is that The Queen approved of […]
By George! It's the Tale of an Unwanted Duke
George IV’s daughter, Charlotte, suffered horribly from her father’s mismanagement. He tried to stiff arm her into marriage with an unattractive lout. She finally married the man of her dreams only to die in child birth. And where did this leave England? And now dear readers, I find myself having to backtrack a bit. My sincerest apologies, but I goofed. There actually were some dukes who married before Charlotte, and one princess. Had Charlotte lived, these marriages would have been […]
By George! The Prince Has Sisters?
George the Fourth’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, died in childbirth not long after he ditched is wife, Princess Caroline. Now the Regent has no heir and no wife. We return for another installment of Mr. Al’s take on the life and times of George IV. As distraught as the Prince Regent was over Charlotte’s death, there were many who believed him partly responsible. Or ,at least, not being as deeply affected as he claimed to be. As the grief of Charlotte’s […]
By George! Dr. Croft Knows His Stuff, He Thinks
After so much difficulty overcoming her father’s objections, Princess Charlotte enjoyed her marriage to Prince Leopold. And now, on to the happy occasion of the birth of her child. It wasn’t until November 3 that Charlotte went into labor. Doctor Croft continued to issue rosy reports. Twenty four hours passed. Although Charlotte’s pain grew worse as the labor progressed, she was determined that she would “neither bawl nor shriek.” And she didn’t. Other doctors were standing by, ready to assist. […]
By George!
After having her father, George IV, try to railroad her into a bad marriage, Princess Charlotte not only escaped his claws, she found true love. Everyone was happy, except her dad, who still couldn’t resist throwing a party. The wedding took place May 2, 1816. Carlton House was the venue and everything ran like clockwork. Charlotte had dinner with her grandmother and her aunts at the Queen’s House and it was there that she prepared. Wearing a “shimmering silver wedding […]
By George! She's Been Abandoned.
Just when Princess Charlotte needed her mother’s backing the most, Princess Caroline threw in the towel. She was more than willing to allow Charlotte and any heirs to Charlotte lose their place in the British monarchy just to get away from Prince George. What is a princess to do? The first week of August 1814, Princess Caroline boarded the frigate H.M.S. Jason with as motley an assortment of flunkies, hangers-on and servants as had ever set foot on one of […]
