George III of the United Kingdom

George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820)

Marriage

George, Prince of Wales inherited the Crown when his grandfather, George II, died on 25 October 1760. After his accession, a search throughout Europe ensued for a suitable wife. On 8 September 1761, the King married Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, London. A fortnight later, both were crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Related Topics:
25 October - 1760 - Europe - 8 September - 1761 - Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz - Chapel Royal - St. James's Palace - Westminster Abbey

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It is said that George was smitten with Lady Sarah Lennox, daughter of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, and actually winced when he first saw the homely Charlotte, whom he met on their wedding day. However, he gamely went ahead with his marriage vows, and, remarkably, never took a mistress (in contrast with both his Hanoverian predecessors). They had fifteen children—nine sons and six daughters—more than any other monarch in British history. Two of his sons became Kings of the United Kingdom; another became King of Hanover; a daughter became Queen of Württemberg.

Related Topics:
Lady Sarah Lennox - Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

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George was, falsely, said to have married a Quakeress named Hannah Lightfoot on 17 April 1759, prior to his marriage to Charlotte. If such a marriage had existed, then his marriage to Charlotte would have been bigamous and all of George's successors would have been usurpers. But no legal marriage to Lightfoot could have occurred. Hannah Lightfoot was already married to Isaac Axelford in 1753; she died in 1759, and therefore could not have produced legitimate children from a marriage in April of 1759. George's marriage to Charlotte was therefore clearly not bigamous. The "marriage" to Hannah Lightfoot was mentioned in the 1866 trial of the daughter of impostress Olive Wilmot, who claimed to be "Princess Olive." A forged marriage certificate produced at her trial was impounded in 1866 and studied by the Attorney General. It is now in the Royal Archives in Windsor Castle.

Related Topics:
Quakeress - Hannah Lightfoot - Isaac Axelford - Princess Olive - Attorney General - Royal Archives - Windsor Castle

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