The Disastrous Marriage of George IV Quiz

Answer: Parliament promised him more money if he did so

Now there's real romance for you! He didn't wish to marry out of love or lust, but to swell his purse. Who could resist such a charmer as that? He was 32 years old by then and no heir to the throne was in sight, so parliament thought they'd give him a hurry along by dangling a golden carrot in front of the regal donkey's nose. George was also a spendthrift who had accumulated such huge debts that he couldn't even afford to pay the interest on his outstanding bills let alone pay them off.

He also kept several mistresses in tow, one of whom he had attempted to marry, but to no avail. So it was off to the church he went for a solution to his financial woes.

Answer: Caroline had allegedly behaved improperly with an Irish soldier

Caroline, in fact, had a very bad reputation. Not only had she got up to hanky-panky with her Irish soldier, but previous negotiations for her hand on behalf of another swain had been called off without any explanation. George's mother, in fact, smelled a rat, but her efforts to persuade George to accept her choice proved to be in vain.

Answer: His mistress at the time talked him into it

Lady Jersey, who was George's current heart-flutterer talked the silly George into selecting Caroline. Her reason for doing so was that she most definitely thought Caroline would be the lesser threat to her for the affections of the prince than the prettier Louise would be.

Answer: He was horrified

The worthy James found Caroline in a very dishevelled state, and he had to discreetly hold his delicate nose whenever he was near her, as it was more than apparent that she wasn't on speaking terms with soap. In short, she smelled. Her conversation too was coarse and vulgar and she was too familiar with him, prone to nudging him now and again in his aristocratic ribs and telling him a bawdy joke or two.

Answer: Four months

That poor man. He tried his best, but made no impression at all on the recalcitrant Caroline. So, with sinking heart, he escorted the blushing flower of modesty back to meet her future husband, who was anxiously awaiting - in between his visits to his mistresses and his gambling, that is.

Answer: "Harris, I am not well. Pray get me a glass of brandy"

It was too late to turn back. The Prince had well and truly cast his die. The unlikely couple proceeded to stumble through an awkward conversation together and then George hurriedly left, after making arrangements to dine with Caroline later that evening. No doubt George headed straight for the royal liquor cabinet as fast as he could in the interim.

Answer: "I think he is very fat"

Not only did she make this unflattering remark about her true love, Caroline also added "He's nothing like as handsome as his portrait". In short, the mismatched pair experienced a real aversion for each other from the moment they met.

Answer: By making coarse jokes about him and Lady Jersey

George couldn't back out by this stage, and, with the greatest gloom on his part, the marriage date loomed closer. Caroline, on the other hand, was equally put off by her future husband, and the pair spent as little time together as they possibly could. The marriage took place on 8 April, 1795.

Answer: Completely drunk

And so to the wedding night. George stated later that Caroline complimented him on the size of his member, which normally would have been flattering, but instead left him wondering as to how she discovered the means by which she could actually make such a comparison.

Their marriage was an utter disaster, and apart from performing their conjugal duties only three times, they never slept together again. She stayed under the same roof until 1797, but in that year, left his royal residence entirely to set up her own establishment.

Answer: One day short of 9 months later, she gave birth

It was all downhill after that for the couple. From her own establishment, but with the child Charlotte in the custody of George at his residence, the couple continued to battle and sling accusations and threats at each other, using Charlotte as a weapon of war to fire at each other. Alas, when Princess Charlotte grew up and married, she died following the birth of a stillborn son in 1817, and the marriage of hate between Caroline and George, which had produced only one glimmer of love in the shape of their daughter, came to its sorry end. George died in 1830, after having King for ten years.

He had refused to have Caroline declared Queen and excluded her from his coronation. Caroline fell ill on the day of his coronation and died three weeks later, averring that she had been poisoned by his agents.