Caroline of Brunswick

queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom (1768-1821)

Caroline of Brunswick (17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821) was the wife of King George IV. Her parents were Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick and Princess Augusta of Great Britain.

Caroline of Brunswick
Portrait c. 1820 by James Lonsdale, "Principal Painter in Ordinary to the Queen". Her wedding ring is displayed prominently to emphasise fidelity to marriage vows.
Queen consort of the United Kingdom and Hanover
Tenure29 January 1820 – 7 August 1821
Born(1768-05-17)17 May 1768
Brunswick, Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empire
Died7 August 1821(1821-08-07) (aged 53)
Hammersmith, Middlesex, England
Burial25 August 1821
Spouse
(m. 1795)
IssuePrincess Charlotte of Wales
Full name
Caroline Amalie Elisabeth
HouseBrunswick-Bevern
FatherCharles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
MotherPrincess Augusta of Great Britain

Caroline married George on 8 April 1795, when he was the Prince of Wales. That made Caroline the Princess of Wales. When George became king on 29 January 1820, Caroline became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom. Caroline and George had one child, Princess Charlotte of Wales. They separated in 1796.

Caroline died on 7 August 1821 at the age of 53. Her physicians thought she had an intestinal obstruction,[1] but she may have had cancer.[2] There were also rumours at the time that she had been poisoned.[3]

Ancestry

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References

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  1. Shingleton, Hugh M (November–December 2006). "The Tumultuous Marriage of The Prince and The Princess of Wales". ACOG Clinical Review. 11 (6): 13–16.
  2. Plowden, p. 276; Robins, p. 313
  3. Robins, p. 313
  4. Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans [Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the kings and princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living] (in French). Bourdeaux: Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel. 1768. p. 53.

Bibliography

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  • Plowden, Alison (2005). Caroline and Charlotte: Regency Scandals 1795–1821. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-4173-1.
  • Robins, Jane (2006). Rebel Queen: How the Trial of Caroline Brought England to the Brink of Revolution. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-7826-7.

Other websites

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Caroline of Brunswick
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 17 May 1768 Died: 7 August 1821
British royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Queen consort of the United Kingdom and Hanover
1820–1821
Vacant
Title next held by
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen