Person    | Female  Born 26/7/1756  Died 27/3/1837

Mrs Fitzherbert

Categories: Royalty

Mistress/wife of George, Prince of Wales, King George IV to be. Her first husband, Edward Weld, died three months after the wedding, falling off his horse, and before he had signed his new will, thus leaving his widow unprovided for. She married Mr Fitzherbert three years later and three years after that he died, but this time the young widow successfully inherited. Thus enabled to move in high society she met the Prince of Wales and married him on 15 December 1785, in her Mayfair home in Park Street. The Prince did not obtain permission from his father King George III so the marriage, carried out by Robert Burt, was not considered valid. However if he had gained permission, and the wedding had been valid he would have been disqualified from inheriting the throne since Mrs F was a Catholic. So it seems the couple chose for her not to become queen rather than for him not to become king.

His relationship with Mrs F did not stop the Prince having an affair with Lady Jersey or, in 1795, marrying, legally this time, Caroline of Brunswick (for her money).

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Mrs Fitzherbert

Commemorated ati

Garden of rest

Holly Road Garden of rest This garden was first laid out for public use in 19...

Read More

Other Subjects

Catherine of Braganza

Catherine of Braganza

Queen of King Charles II. Born at the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, Portugal. She arrived at Portsmouth in May 1662. Because of her Catholicism she was an unpopular consort, and was attacked by the ...

Person, Royalty, Portugal

1 memorial
King Henry V

King Henry V

King of England. Born in Monmouth. He ruled from 1413 until his sudden death. Famously remembered for his victory against the French at the Battle of Agincourt.

Person, Royalty, France, Wales

1 memorial
King Canute / Cnut

King Canute / Cnut

King of Denmark, England and Norway. Also known as Cnut Sweynsson or Cnut the Great. His supposed attempt to turn back the waves, was not arrogance on his part, but to show his fawning courtiers th...

Person, Armed Forces, Royalty, Denmark

1 memorial
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Soldier and member of the Royal Family.  Born at Sandringham, third son of George V.  Married Alice.  Parents of Richard.  Governor-General of Australia 1944-7, returning to the UK in case he was n...

Person, Armed Forces, Royalty

4 memorials
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone

Born Princess Alice of Albany at Windsor Castle, daughter of Prince Leopold and Princess Helena. 1904 married Prince Alexander of Teck, which meant she was then Princess Alexander of Teck. Mother o...

Person, Royalty

4 memorials