Quem se casou com Jorge IV do Reino Unido?

Jorge IV (Londres, 12 de agosto de 1762 – Windsor, 26 de junho de 1830) foi Rei do Reino Unido da Grã-Bretanha e Irlanda e Rei de Hanôver de 29 de janeiro de 1820 até sua morte. De 1811 até sua ascensão foi Príncipe Regente durante a doença mental de seu pai, o rei Jorge III.

Jorge teve uma vida extravagante que contribuiu para a moda durante o Período da Regência, sendo o patrono de muitas formas de prazer, estilo e gosto. Tinha uma relação ruim com o pai, acumulou grandes dívidas e teve várias amantes, com a principal e mais duradoura sendo Maria Fitzherbert. Ele foi forçado a se casar em 1795 com sua prima Carolina de Brunsvique-Volfembutel; os dois não gostavam um do outro e se separaram pouco depois do nascimento de sua filha, Carlota de Gales, no ano seguinte.

Robert Jenkinson, 2.º Conde de Liverpool, controlou o governo como primeiro-ministro durante a maior parte de sua regência e reinado. Os governos de Jorge, mesmo recebendo pouco apoio do rei, presidiram a vitória nas Guerras Napoleônicas, negociaram um acordo de paz e tentaram lidar com o mal-estar econômico e social que se seguiu. Ele teve de aceitar George Canning como primeiro-ministro, além de desistir de sua oposição à emancipação católica.

Seu charme e cultura lhe valeram o título de "o primeiro cavalheiro da Inglaterra", porém suas relações com Jorge III e Carolina, e seu jeito devasso, lhe renderam o desprezo do povo e diminuiu o prestígio da monarquia. Contribuintes ficaram furiosos com seus gastos desnecessários em tempos de guerra. Jorge não proporcionou uma liderança nacional em uma época de crise, e também não atuou como um modelo para seu povo. Ministros avaliavam seu comportamento como egoísta, não confiável e irresponsável.

Frances Villiers, Condessa de Jersey (25 de Fevereiro de 1753 - 23 de Julho de 1821), foi uma das mais notáveis entre as muitas amantes do rei Jorge IV do Reino Unido quando ele ainda era príncipe de Gales. Era "uma mulher de sociedade brilhante, uma mistura irresistível de charme, beleza e sarcasmo".

Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne (née Milbanke; 1751 – 1818) was one of the most influential of the political hostesses of the extended Regency period, and the wife of Whig politician Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne. She was the mother of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and several other influential children. Lady Melbourne was known for her political influence and her friendships and romantic relationships with other members of the English aristocracy, including Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford, and George, Prince of Wales. Because of her numerous love affairs, the paternity of several of her children is a matter of dispute.

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (geborene Smythe, * 26. Juli 1756 in Brambridge, Hampshire; † 27. März 1837 in Brighton, Sussex) war eine Engländerin römisch-katholischen Glaubens und die erste Ehefrau des späteren Königs Georg IV. von Großbritannien. Ihre nach zweifacher Verwitwung mit Georg IV. 1785 heimlich eingegangene Ehe wurde vom Königshaus als ungültig angesehen und auch daher nie geschieden. Georg IV. betrachtete sie zeit seines Lebens als seine rechtmäßige Ehefrau.

Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (Caroline Amelia Elizabeth; 17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Queen of Hanover from 29 January 1820 until her death in 1821 as the estranged wife of King George IV. She was Princess of Wales from 1795 to 1820.

The daughter of Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, and Princess Augusta of Great Britain, Caroline was engaged in 1794 to her first cousin George, Prince of Wales, whom she had never met. He was already illegally married to Maria Fitzherbert. George and Caroline married the following year but separated shortly after the birth of their only child, Princess Charlotte, in 1796. By 1806, rumours that Caroline had taken multiple lovers and had an illegitimate child led to an investigation into her private life. The dignitaries who led the investigation concluded that there was "no foundation" to the rumours, but Caroline's access to her daughter was still restricted. In 1814, Caroline moved to Italy, where she employed Bartolomeo Pergami as a servant. Pergami soon became Caroline's closest companion, and it was widely assumed that they were lovers. In 1817, Caroline was devastated when Charlotte died in childbirth. She heard the news from a passing courier as George had refused to write and tell her. He was determined to divorce Caroline and set up a second investigation to collect evidence of her adultery.

In January 1820, George became King of the United Kingdom and Hanover, and Caroline became nominal queen consort. George insisted on a divorce from Caroline, which she refused. A legal divorce was possible but difficult to obtain. Caroline returned to Britain to assert her position as queen. She was wildly popular with the British people, who sympathised with her and despised the new king for his immoral behaviour. On the basis of the loose evidence collected against her, George attempted to divorce Caroline by introducing the Pains and Penalties Bill 1820 to Parliament, but he and the bill were so unpopular and Caroline so popular with the masses that it was withdrawn by the Liverpool ministry. The King barred Caroline from his coronation in July 1821. She fell ill in London and died three weeks later. Her funeral procession passed through London on its way to her native Brunswick, where she was buried in Brunswick Cathedral.