by Alison Weir
1 Frederick Francis V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (b.1910); he married Karen Elizabeth (b.1920), daughter of Walter von Schaper.
2 Christian Louis, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (b.1912); he married Barbara (b.1920), daughter of Prince Sigismund of Prussia, and had issue.
3 Thyra (b.1919).
4 Anastasia (b.1922); she married Frederick Ferdinand, Prince of Schleswin-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (b.1913), and had issue.
Alexandra died on 30 August, 1963, at Glucksburg Castle, Germany.
(iv) Olga Adelaide Louise Marie Alexandrina Agnes
She was born on 11 July, 1884, at Gmunden, Austria, and died on 21 September, 1958, either at Linz, or at Hubertibus, Gmunden, Austria.
(v) Christian Frederick William George Peter Waldemar
He was born on 4 July, 1885, at Gmunden, Austria, and died there on 3 September, 1901.
(vi) Ernest Augustus Christian George
He was born on 17 November, 1887, at Penzing Hall, near Vienna, Austria. He succeeded his father as Duke of Brunswick-Lüneberg on 14 November, 1923. He died on 30 January, 1953, at Marienburg Castle, Hanover, Germany.
Ernest married, on 24 May, 1913, at Berlin, Germany:
Victoria Louise
She was the daughter of William II, Emperor of Germany, by Augusta Victoria, daughter of Frederick, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, and she was born on 13 September, 1892, at the Marble Palace, Potsdam, Germany. She died in 1980.
Issue of marriage:
1 Ernest Augustus George William Christian Louis Francis Joseph Nicholas (b.1914); he married firstly Ortrud (1925–1980), daughter of Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, and had issue. He married secondly Monica (b. 1929), daughter of George Frederick, Duke of Solms-Laubach.
2 George William Ernest Augustus Frederick Axel (b.1915); he married Sophia (b.1914), daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, and sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and had issue.
3 Frederica Louise Thyra Victoria Margaret Sophia Olga Cecilia Isabella Christa (1917–1981); she married Paul I, King of Greece (1901–1964), and had issue.
4 Christian Oscar Ernest Augustus William Victor George Henry (1919–1981); he married Mireille (b.1946), daughter of Armand Dutry, and had issue, although they were divorced in 1976.
5 Welf Henry Ernest Augustus George Christian Berthold Frederick William Louis Ferdinand (b.1923); he married Alexandra (b.1938), daughter of Otto Frederick, Fürst of Ysenburg and Büdingen.
(b) Frederica Sophia Marie Henrietta Amelia Theresa
She was born on 9 January, 1848, at Hanover, Germany. She married Liutbert Alexander George Lionel Alphonse, Baron von Pawel-Rammingen (1843–1932), on 24 April, 1880, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and had issue:
1 Victoria Georgina Beatrice Maud Anne, Baroness von Pawel-Rammingen (b.&d.1881).
Frederica died on 16 October, 1926, at Biarritz, France.
(c) Mary Ernestine Josephine Adolphine Henrietta Theresa Elizabeth Alexandra
She was born on 3 December, 1849, at Hanover, Germany, and died on 4 June, 1904, at Gmunden, Austria, where she was buried.
10 Augustus Frederick
He was born on 27 January, 1773, at Buckingham Palace. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 2 June, 1786, and was created Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness and Baron Arklow on 27 November, 1801. He died on 22 April, 1843, at Kensington Palace, London, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Augustus had the following illegitimate issue:
By Miss Tranter of Windsor:
1 Lucy Beaufoy Tranter; she married Charles George Tranter, and had issue, from whom was descended the actress Dame Anna Neagle.
Augustus married firstly, privately, and in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772, on 4 April, 1793, at the Hotel Sarmiento, Rome, and again on 5 December, 1793, at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London:
Augusta
She was the daughter of John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, by Charlotte, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway, and she was born on 27 January (?), 1763 (or, less probably, 1768), in London. Her marriage to Augustus was declared null and void by the Arches Court of Canterbury on 14 July, 1794, and again by the Prerogative Court on 3 August, 1794, although she did not separate from Augustus until 1801. She assumed the style ‘Duchess of Sussex’ in 1801. On 13 October, 1806, she assumed instead, by Royal Licence, the surname and title Lady de Ameland. She died on 5 March, 1830, at her house on the East Cliff, Ramsgate, Kent, and was buried in St Lawrence’s Church, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Issue of marriage:
(i) Augustus Frederick
He was born on 13 January, 1794, at 16, Lower Berkeley Street, London. He adopted the surname ‘d’Este’, and was knighted. He died on 28 December, 1848, at Ramsgate, Kent, of disseminated sclerosis, and was buried in St Lawrence’s Church, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
(ii) Augusta Emma
She was born on 9 August, 1801, in Grosvenor Street, London, and was styled ‘Mademoiselle d’Este’. She married Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro of Bowes (1782–1855) on 13 August, 1845, in London. She died on 21 May, 1866, at 83, Eaton Square, London, and was buried in St Lawrence’s Church, Isle of Thanet, Kent.
Augustus married secondly, also privately and in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772, on c.2 May, 1831, at Great Cumberland Place, London:
Cecilia Laetitia
She was the daughter of Arthur Saunders Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran, by Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Underwood of Dublin, and she was born in 1778, or 1785, or 1788, or 1789. She married firstly Sir George Buggin of Thetford, Norfolk (1760–1825), on 14 May, 1815, at her father’s house in Dover Street, London. She assumed her mother’s maiden surname of Underwood by Royal Licence on 2 May, 1831, the day her second marriage is thought to have taken place. She was created Duchess of Inverness in her own right on 5 April, 1840. She died on 1 August, 1873, at Kensington Palace, London, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. There was no issue of the marriage.
11 Adolphus Frederick
He was born on 24 February, 1774, at Buckingham Palace. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 2 June, 1786, and was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Tipperary, and Baron of Culloden on 27 November, 1801. He died on 8 July, 1850, at Cambridge House, Piccadilly, London, and was buried at Kew. His remains were later removed to St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Adolphus married, on 7 May, 1818, at Cassel, Prussia, and again on 1 June, 1818, at Kew Palace, Surrey:
Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa
She was the daughter of Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (son of Mary, daughter of George II), by Caroline Polyxena, daughter of Charles William, Prince of Nassau-Usingen, and she was born on 25 July, 1797, at Rumpenheim Castle, Cassel, Germany. She died on 6 April, 1889, at St James’s Palace, London, and was buried at Kew. Her remains were later removed to St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Issue of marriage:
(i) George William Frederick Charles
He was born on 26 March, 1819, at Cambridge House, Hanover, Germany. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 15 August, 1835, and succeeded his father as Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Tipperary and Baron of Culloden on 8 July, 1850. He died on 17 March, 1904, at Gloucester House, Piccadilly, London, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
George married, privately and in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772, on 8 January, 1847, at St John’s Church, Clerkenwell, London:
Sarah Louisa
She was the daughter of John Fairbrother by an unnamed daughter of Thomas Freeman of Wylcot, Shrewsbury, and she was born in 1816 at Bow Street, Covent Garden, London. An actress, she was known as ‘Mrs FitzGeorge’ after her marriage. She died on 12 January, 1890, at 6, Queen Street, Mayfair, London, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Sarah Louisa had the following illegitimate issue:
1 Charles Manners Sutton Fairbrother (?) (1836–190
1).
2 Louisa Katherine (b.1839?); she married a Captain Hamilton.
Issue of marriage, all surnamed ‘FitzGeorge’ (the first two were actually born before their parents entered wedlock):
(a) George William Adolphus
He was born on 27 August, 1843, in London. He died on 2 September, 1907, at Lucerne, Switzerland.
George married, on 28 November, 1885, in Paris:
Rosa Frederica
She was the daughter of William Baring of Norman Court, Hants., by Elizabeth Hammersley, and she was born on 9 March, 1854, at Norman Court, Hants. She married firstly Frank Wigsell Arkwright of Sanderstead Court, Surrey, on 29 August, 1878, and had issue:
1 Mabel Iris (b.1886); she married firstly Robert Shekelton Balfour (1869–1942), and had issue, and secondly Vladimir Emanuellovitch, Prince Galitzine (1884–1954).
2 George Daphné (1889–1954); she married Sir George Foster Earle (1890–1965), although they later divorced.
3 George William Frederick (1892–1960); he married firstly Esther Vignon (1888–c.1935), from whom he was later divorced, and secondly Frances (b.1911), daughter of Robert Bellenger.
Rosa was divorced from her first husband, prior to marrying George FitzGeorge. She died on 10 March, 1927, either at Cannes or in London. There was no issue of her marriage to George.
(b) Adolphus Augustus Frederick
He was born on 30 January, 1846, in London, and rose to the rank of knight. He died on 17 December, 1922, in London.
Adolphus married firstly, on 21 September, 1875, either at Hull or at Hessle, Yorkshire:
Sophia Jane
She was the daughter of Thomas Holden of Winestead Hall, Hull, and she was born in 1857 at Hull. She died on 3 February, 1920, in London.
Issue of marriage:
(i) Olga Mary Adelaide
She was born in 1877. She married firstly Sir Archibald Hamilton (1876–1939), and had issue:
1 George Edward Archibald Augustus FitzGeorge (1898–killed in action 1918). She was divorced from her first husband in 1902, and married secondly Robert Charlton Lane (1873–1943), and had issue, although again, I have been unable to obtain details of such. She died in 1920.
Adolphus married secondly, on 28 October, 1920, at Pimlico, London:
Margaret Beatrice Daisy
She was the daughter of John Watson, and she was born in 1863. She died on 26 February, 1934, in London. There was no issue of the marriage.
(c) Augustus Charles Frederick
He was born on 12 June, 1847, in London, and rose to the rank of knight. He died unmarried on 30 October, 1933, in London.
(ii) Augusta Caroline Charlotte Elizabeth Mary Sophia Louise
She was born on 19 July, 1822, at the Palace of Montbrilliant, Hanover. She married Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1819–1904), on 28 June, 1843, at Buckingham Palace, and had issue:
1 Unnamed son (b.&d. 1845).
2 George Adolphus Frederick Augustus Victor Ernest Adalbert Gustavus William Wellington, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1848–1914); he married Elizabeth Marie Frederica Amelia Agnes of Anhalt (1857–1933), and had issue.
Augusta died on 4/5 December, 1916, at Neustrelitz, Germany, where she was buried.
(iii) Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth
She was born on 27 November, 1833, at Hanover, Germany. She married Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander, Duke of Teck (1837–1900), on 12 June, 1866, at Kew Church, Surrey, and had issue:
1 Queen Mary, wife of George V. ( see here, under George V).
2 Adolphus Charles Alexander Albert Edward George Philip Louis Ladislaus, 1st Marquess of Cambridge (1868–1927); he married Margaret Evelyn (1873–1929), daughter of Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, and had issue.
3 Francis Joseph Leopold Frederick (1870–1910).
4 Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George, Earl of Athlone (1874–1957); he married Princess Alice of Albany, daughter of Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, and had issue.
Mary Adelaide died on 27 October, 1897, at White Lodge, Richmond Park, Surrey, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
12 Mary
She was born on 25 April, 1776, at Buckingham Palace. She married her cousin, William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester ( see here, under George II) (1776–1834), on 22 July, 1816, at the Private Chapel, Buckingham Palace. She died on 30 April, 1857, at Gloucester House, Piccadilly, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
13 Sophia Matilda
She was born on 3 November, 1777, at Buckingham Palace. She died on 27 May, 1848, at her house in Vicarage Place, Kensington, London, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
Sophia had the following illegitimate (?) issue:
By General Thomas Garth (d.1829):
1 Thomas Garth (1800–after 1839). He left issue. He was born before August, 1800, in Weymouth, Dorset. It is possible that Sophia and General Garth had been married soon after her arrival in Weymouth that year, as his family lived nearby. However, there is no evidence to support a story that they were married in Puddletown Church, Dorset. A portrait of Sophia in old age shows her wearing a wedding ring.
14 Octavius
He was born on 23 February, 1779, at Buckingham Palace. He died on 3 May, 1783, at Kew Palace, Surrey, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His remains were later removed to St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
15 Alfred
He was born on 22 September, 1780, at Windsor Castle. He died on 20 August, 1782, at Windsor Castle, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His remains were later removed to St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
16 Amelia
She was born on 7 August, 1783, at The Lodge, Windsor Castle. It is possible that she married, at some unknown date, the Hon. Charles FitzRoy (1762–1831), but the evidence is conflicting. She died on 2 November, 1810, at Augusta Lodge, St Albans Street, Windsor, of erysipelas, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
GEORGE III
He suffered from the disease porphyria, which led his contemporaries to believe he was mad. The death of his youngest daughter Amelia in 1810 broke his health for good, and he became unfit to reign. In 1811, his son George was created Prince Regent, and remained so until his father’s death, when he succeeded him.
George III died on 29 January, 1820, at Windsor Castle, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
He was succeeded by his son George.
George IV
* * *
FATHER: George III ( see here).
MOTHER: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ( see here, under George III).
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under George III).
GEORGE IV
Baptised George Augustus Frederick, he was born on 12 August, 1762, at St James’s Palace, London, and was Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew and Lord of the Isles from birth. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 17 or 19 August, 1762. He was created Prince Regent of the United Kingdom by Act of Parliament on 5 February, 1811, because of his father’s incapacity; he held this title until his accession. He succeeded his father as King of Great Britain on 29 January, 1820, and was crowned on 19 July, 1821, at Westminster Abbey.
George IV married firstly, privately and in contravention of the Act of Settlement 1701 and the Royal Marriages Act 1772, on 15 September, 1785, at her house in Park Lane, Mayfair, London:
Maria Anne
She was the daughter of Walter Smythe of Brambridge, Hants., by Mary, daughter of John Errington of Red Rice, Andover, Hants., and she was born on 26 July, 1756, at Brambridge, Hants. She married firstly Edward Weld (d.1775), of Lulworth Castle, Dorset, in 1775, and secondly Thomas FitzHerbert of Norbury, Derby, and Swynnerton, Staffs. (d.1781), in 1778. Her marriage to the Prince of Wales was invalid under British Law, but was recognised by Papal Brief in 1800 (Mrs FitzHerbert was a Roman Catholic). Maria formally adopted the following children:
1 Mary (�
��Minnie’) Seymour, orphaned daughter of Lord Hertford, who later married Colonel Dawson Darner.
2 Mary Anne Smythe, the illegitimate daughter of Maria’s brother; she later married Captain Jerningham.
Maria spent most of her married life living apart from her husband. She died on 27 or 29 March, 1837, at Brighton, Sussex, and was buried in the R.C. Church of St John the Baptist, Brighton, Sussex. There was no issue of her marriage to George IV.
George IV married secondly, on 8 April, 1795, at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London:
Caroline Amelia Elizabeth
She was the daughter of Charles II (William Ferdinand), Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, by Princess Augusta of Wales, granddaughter of George II. She was born on 17 May, 1768, at Brunswick, Germany. The King tried unsuccessfully to divorce her for adultery (then a treasonable crime on the part of his Consort), and she was refused admission to his coronation in 1821. She died on 7 August, 1821, at Brandenburg House, Hammersmith, London, and was buried at Brunswick.
Issue of marriage:
1 Charlotte Augusta
She was born on 7 January, 1796, at Carlton House, London. She married Prince Leopold George Frederick of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield (1790–1865) (later to become Leopold I, King of the Belgians) on 2 May, 1816, at Carlton House, London, and had issue:
1 Miscarriage; this occurred in July, 1816, at Camelford House, London.