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- Fitzherbert, a deeply religious Catholic, was terrified by George's demands that she become his mistress and fled to the Continent. Crazed with grief, the prince offered to marry her. With that, she returned to London, and they were wed secretly by an Anglican minister on December 21, 1785.
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Maria Anne Fitzherbert was the secret wife of King George IV of the United Kingdom. However, their marriage was never declared legal according to the English civil law, the 'Act of Settlement' (1701), and the 'Royal Marriage Act' of 1772.
At the time of King George IV's death in 1830, Maria Fitzherbert was among the few who mourned. The late king obviously had shared the same affection, having requested that Fitzherbert's miniature portrait be hung round his neck and buried with him. She died seven years later, at age 81.
- She Had Mysterious Origins
- She Married For Money
- She Wasn't Worried
- She Lost Everything
- She Held Out Hope
- She Was Left High and Dry
- She Acted Fast
- She Faced An Unimaginable Grief
- She Waited on A Will
- She Sowed Some Wild Oats
Maria was born in Shropshire England in 1756 and carried the birth name Maria Anne Smythe. Even then, she was the subject of sordid gossip. Whispers speculated whether Walter Smythe was really her father. She was, after all, born at the Duke of Kingston's castle, and some believed that Maria truly belonged to him. But this was only a taste of the s...
When Maria was just a teenager, she married her first husband, Edward Weld. Weld was twice her age and a rich landowner to boot. From an economical standpoint, Maria chose wisely, but when it came to matters of the heart, the marriage seemed rather loveless. Nevertheless, at the tender age of 16, Maria seemed set for life. But then, out of nowhere,...
Only three months after Maria wed Edward, her husband had a devastating accident: he fell from his horse and died from his injuries. Edward's passing left Maria widowed, alone, and most importantly, free. Bolstered by the idea of inheriting Edward's fortune, she wasn't too worried about her prospects. She was the sole heir to her husband's estate.....
After Edward passed on, Maria anxiously awaited the reading of his will. When the time came, her eyes shone in anticipation. But as the reading went on, her smile faltered...She wasn't even mentioned once. Because his demise came shortly after their marriage, her husband hadn’t revised his will to include her. She could only hope that her wifely st...
To Maria's dismay, all her husband's money automatically went to Weld’s younger brother, Thomas. But surely Thomas would see that she was due something for being his brother's wife—even if it was for just a couple of months. Although he held Maria's livelihood in his hands, Thomas had his own personal agenda and a very real reason for keeping the i...
Even though Maria looked piteous as a young widow begging for scraps, Thomas wasn't about to share his brother's fortune. After all, he had 15 children to take care of. Maria, on the other hand, was childless and had only been a part of the family for a short time. Needless to say, she didn't get a cent, and as a result, became completely destitute...
Three years later, Maria earned her surname when she married Thomas Fitzherbert in 1778. It’s not clear how much love there was between the two of them as theirs was more a marriage of necessity than anything else. They were, however, blessed with a little boy. Finally settled with her growing family, things seemed to be looking up. But despite thi...
Maria Fitzherbert faced the sudden passing of not one, but two,family members. Tragically, her son became terminally ill and passed at an early age. But that wasn't all. In 1781, her husband was wounded in an anti-Catholic riot. The wound was serious, and although doctors tried to save him, he succumbed to his injuries. Widowed once again, Maria ke...
Fitzherbert’s anxiety must’ve been through the roof. She’d already missed out on financial support from her first marriage. Surely, it couldn't happen again. To her relief, Fitzherbert's will included her, and Maria inherited 1,000 pounds per year (about 220,000 US dollars today), as well as a townhouse in fashionable Mayfair. For Maria, her life w...
Fitzherbert was now 28 years old and twice widowed. She’d been shackled to one man or another for the past 12 years and had overcome some serious lows. It was high time she indulged in some fun. Upon entering London's high society, she came to a stunning revelation.After being cooped up for so long she hadn't realized the power of her own womanly w...
Maria Anne Fitzherbert, 1756–1837, wife of George, Prince of Wales (later George IV ). He was her third husband. The marriage (1785) was illegal by the terms of the Royal Marriage Act (1772) and the Act of Settlement (1701), since the prince was under age and Mrs. Fitzherbert was a Roman Catholic. It was therefore ignored in 1795 when the ...
Nov 8, 2014 · As it had happened with King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, the marriage of The Prince of Wales, as George was then, to Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert was shrouded in secrecy. However, unlike...
1 2. Famous beauty; morganatic wife of George IV A woman of tact and discretion, Mrs Fitzherbert was one of the great beauties of her day. Although a Catholic and a widow she was persuaded to marry the Prince of Wales in a secret ceremony in 1785. The marriage was illegal.
Dec 21, 2017 · On the evening of December 15, 1785, after a long search for a clergyman willing to conduct the ceremony, George and Maria were married in her drawing room in front of witnesses. The couple departed from their makeshift wedding for a short honeymoon in Richmond before returning to London in time for Christmas.
