Prince George, Duke of Southampton: Difference between revisions
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| burial_date = 10 April 1970 | | burial_date = 10 April 1970 | ||
| burial_place = {{wp|Westminster Abbey}}, {{wp|London}} | | burial_place = {{wp|Westminster Abbey}}, {{wp|London}} | ||
| spouse = {{marriage|{{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia}}|22 August 1887|13 November 1929|end=died}}<br/>{{marriage|{{wp|Rita Hayworth}}|12 August | | spouse = {{marriage|{{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia}}|22 August 1887|13 November 1929|end=died}}<br/>{{marriage|{{wp|Rita Hayworth}}|12 August 1946}} | ||
| issue = {{plainlist|* [[Frederick William, Duke of Southampton]] | | issue = {{plainlist|* [[Frederick William, Duke of Southampton]] | ||
* [[Henry, Duke of Gloucester]] | * [[Henry, Duke of Gloucester]] | ||
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==Marriage== | ==Marriage== | ||
===First Marriage=== | |||
As the younger George was deemed unlikely to ever succeed to the throne, he was also consequently deemed as being less of importance by his [[William V of the United Kingdom|father]]. As a result, George was theoretically allowed to choose his spouse, opposed to that of his siblings. However, as a result of unexpected complications, the young George was hastily married to the {{wp|German}} princess {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Viktoria}}, who is five years his senior as a compromise while his [[George V of the United Kingdom|brother]], who was previously engaged to {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Viktoria}} married the princess's {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|younger sister}} instead in a dual marriage ceremony. Almost expectedly, the newlyweds initially found no sense of attraction towards the other, exemplified by their respective refusals to reside in the same bedroom. | |||
For the next seven years, the couple, with the encouragement of both of their parents began undergoing a lengthy process of reconciliation. However, at the same time this was complicated by a blooming liaison between George and {{wp|Alice Keppel}}, a young {{wp|British}} {{wp|hostess}}. As it was generally accepted that Keppel proved to be far more attractive compared to {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Viktoria}} herself, this led the {{wp|German}} princess to a considerable degree of mental instability, which ultimately led to a timely intervention that annulled George's two years long affair, which purportedly resulted in a child claimed to be that of George and Keppel's. Luckily, the intervention proved a fruitful decision when the two agreed to reconcile once more. | |||
Within a month into the process, signs of success was first shown when Viktoria gave birth to their first born child. This further drew the two closer into a lifelong harmonious marriage, a stark opposite compared to their first few years together, followed by a couple of pregnancies which resulted in the birth of an another son and the couple's only daughter. Subsequently, Victoria began to indulge herself in her husband's explorations and numerous other activities, to which she would then often writs in passion and excitement in her recounts. However, Viktoria's death from pneumonia in 1929 proved a difficult blow to the prince who was then already in his 60's. Almost immediately, the prince drastically limited himself to only his close circles, though this did not prevent him from entering into a liaison with prominent {{wp|British}} socialite, {{wp|Freda Dudley Ward|Freda Dudley Ward}} who is almost twice his junior. | |||
The couple's affair quickly became an interest of the public, and even in the aristocratic circle, with George's nephew [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward]] remarking that ''"it is not a surprise should they decide to marry"''. Amidst much public speculation and rumours of an awaited marriage, neither did George nor Freda ever formalised their affair, with the former instead moving to the {{wp|United States}} on the onset of the {{wp|Second World War}}. Despite the separation, the two briefly exchanged letters with each other for a short period and was said to had remained cordial friends until their respective deaths. | |||
===Second Marriage=== | |||
Following likely rumours of an impending {{wp|German}} attack on {{wp|Britain}}, the prince and a select number of his close contacts decided to move to the {{wp|United States}} where they were warmly received by {{wp|Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Roosevelt}}, while his [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|nephew]] and his immediate family chose to remain in {{wp|Britain}}. Regardless, throughout the duration of the war, George was an avid supporter of the {{wp|Allied}} war effort. At the same time, George came into contact with his grandnephew [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles]], the future Charles III. | |||
In 1944, the prince who had been residing in the {{wp|United States}} first came into contact with {{wp|Rita Hayworth}}, an up-and-coming {{wp|American}} actress who had prior starred in numbers of films, largely of moderate success. Hayworth's unpleasant marriage, coupled with the prince's own sense of attraction immediately led the two into a private relationship, though it was quickly deduced by the public. Following an imminent divorce between Hayworth and her {{wp|Orson Welles|husband}} in 1945, the 74 year old prince then subsequently wed the 27 year old actress. Almost immediately, as Hayworth herself was a {{wp|Roman Catholic}}, George found himself disqualified from the line of succession, though this did not affected the standing of his children shared with his {{wp|Princess Victoria of Prussia|first wife}}. Regardless, with the intervention of his grandnephew who was coincidentally married to the upcoming {{wp|Jewish}} {{wp|American}} actress {{wp|Lauren Bacall}}, Hayworth was permitted to style herself as ''Duchess of Southampton''. | |||
==Personal Information== | ==Personal Information== | ||
Revision as of 16:39, 20 October 2020
| Prince George | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of Southampton | |||||
 | |||||
| Born | George Nicholas Frederick William 22 May 1871 Buckingham Palace, London | ||||
| Died | 4 April 1970 (aged 98) Southampton, England | ||||
| Burial | 10 April 1970 | ||||
| Spouse | Rita Hayworth (m. 1946) | ||||
| Issue Detail | |||||
| |||||
| House | Hanover | ||||
| Father | William V | ||||
| Mother | Charlotte of Belgium | ||||
| Religion | Protestant | ||||
Prince George, Duke of Southampton (George Nicholas Frederick William; 22 May 1871 - 4 April 1970) was a British prince and explorer. He is the youngest out of four children of King William V and Queen Charlotte and is also the longest living, having outlived both his parents and siblings until his death in 1970.
Early Life
George was born on the 22nd of May 1871 as the fourth and youngest child of King William V. In contrast to his siblings, George's birth proved a difficult affair for his mother, though this would immediately bring him into the "spotlight" of his mother's affections. Noted for his striking similarities to the German Crown Prince Frederick, George's given name was also a subject of debate between his parents, for his father had insisted on a different name, while George's mother opted to name her newborn son in honour of her eldest living son and prematurely deceased son of the same name.
Like his siblings, George underwent a fairly stable and harmonious upbringing. As he was the youngest of his siblings and was deemed unlikely to ever succeed to the throne, the younger George's upbringing was left entirely in the hands of his mother, who avidly professed a liberal-minded upbringing. Regardless, George found solace in the activities of horse riding and archery, where his prowess in those activities were reportedly unmatched. At the same time, George was quick to embrace his exposure to the liberal arts.
Adulthood
As the youngest of his siblings, the younger George was allowed free rein in determining his own fate, unlike his brothers who were used by their [William V of the United Kingdom|father]] as diplomatic tools through the form of arranged marriages. For the young prince, he came to inhibit a deep sense of passion for exploration, much to the chagrin of his parents. However, this was initially cut short by a hasty marriage to the German princess Viktoria. Regardless, in 1888, George personally underwent a private trip to the northernmost part of Iceland, where his findings were extensively documented in his writings. Consequently, the prince further went on several conversative trips to the northern areas of Canada, Norway and Greenland. In 1900, an expedition consisting of the prince and a group of specialists to Antarctica was unexpectedly thwarted when the group were forced to return to Britain after nearly being shipwrecked while journeying through the Atlantic Sea.
Marriage
First Marriage
As the younger George was deemed unlikely to ever succeed to the throne, he was also consequently deemed as being less of importance by his father. As a result, George was theoretically allowed to choose his spouse, opposed to that of his siblings. However, as a result of unexpected complications, the young George was hastily married to the German princess Viktoria, who is five years his senior as a compromise while his brother, who was previously engaged to Viktoria married the princess's younger sister instead in a dual marriage ceremony. Almost expectedly, the newlyweds initially found no sense of attraction towards the other, exemplified by their respective refusals to reside in the same bedroom.
For the next seven years, the couple, with the encouragement of both of their parents began undergoing a lengthy process of reconciliation. However, at the same time this was complicated by a blooming liaison between George and Alice Keppel, a young British hostess. As it was generally accepted that Keppel proved to be far more attractive compared to Viktoria herself, this led the German princess to a considerable degree of mental instability, which ultimately led to a timely intervention that annulled George's two years long affair, which purportedly resulted in a child claimed to be that of George and Keppel's. Luckily, the intervention proved a fruitful decision when the two agreed to reconcile once more.
Within a month into the process, signs of success was first shown when Viktoria gave birth to their first born child. This further drew the two closer into a lifelong harmonious marriage, a stark opposite compared to their first few years together, followed by a couple of pregnancies which resulted in the birth of an another son and the couple's only daughter. Subsequently, Victoria began to indulge herself in her husband's explorations and numerous other activities, to which she would then often writs in passion and excitement in her recounts. However, Viktoria's death from pneumonia in 1929 proved a difficult blow to the prince who was then already in his 60's. Almost immediately, the prince drastically limited himself to only his close circles, though this did not prevent him from entering into a liaison with prominent British socialite, Freda Dudley Ward who is almost twice his junior.
The couple's affair quickly became an interest of the public, and even in the aristocratic circle, with George's nephew Edward remarking that "it is not a surprise should they decide to marry". Amidst much public speculation and rumours of an awaited marriage, neither did George nor Freda ever formalised their affair, with the former instead moving to the United States on the onset of the Second World War. Despite the separation, the two briefly exchanged letters with each other for a short period and was said to had remained cordial friends until their respective deaths.
Second Marriage
Following likely rumours of an impending German attack on Britain, the prince and a select number of his close contacts decided to move to the United States where they were warmly received by President Roosevelt, while his nephew and his immediate family chose to remain in Britain. Regardless, throughout the duration of the war, George was an avid supporter of the Allied war effort. At the same time, George came into contact with his grandnephew Charles, the future Charles III.
In 1944, the prince who had been residing in the United States first came into contact with Rita Hayworth, an up-and-coming American actress who had prior starred in numbers of films, largely of moderate success. Hayworth's unpleasant marriage, coupled with the prince's own sense of attraction immediately led the two into a private relationship, though it was quickly deduced by the public. Following an imminent divorce between Hayworth and her husband in 1945, the 74 year old prince then subsequently wed the 27 year old actress. Almost immediately, as Hayworth herself was a Roman Catholic, George found himself disqualified from the line of succession, though this did not affected the standing of his children shared with his first wife. Regardless, with the intervention of his grandnephew who was coincidentally married to the upcoming Jewish American actress Lauren Bacall, Hayworth was permitted to style herself as Duchess of Southampton.
Personal Information
Titles & Honours
- 22 May 1871 - 22 August 1887 His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales
- 22 August 1887 - 4 April 1970 His Royal Highness The Duke of Southampton
Honours
Ancestry
| Ancestors of Prince George, Duke of Southampton |
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