Princess Amelia of Great Britain

HRH Princess Amelia of Great Britain (7 August, 1783 – November 2, 1810), was the youngest and favorite daughter of George III of the United Kingdom by Queen consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her death led to a decline in her father's health that resulted in his insanity and the invocation of the Regency Act in 1811. She was buried in the royal vault in the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

She became ill in 1795, and was known to suffer from consumption (which she eventually died from), and erysipelas, a painful type of skin infection. Her eldest brother, later George IV of the United Kingdom, was her godfather and is reputed to have requested her death mask.

Amelia and her sisters Charlotte, Augusta Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary and Sophia were over-protected and isolated, which restriced their meeting eligible suitors of their own age.

Amelia fell in love with Sir Charles Fitzroy, an equerry 21 years older than her, but was forbidden to marry him by her mother Queen Charlotte. After Amelia's death, George Villiers (1759 – 1827), the King's bailiff and younger brother of Thomas Villiers, 2nd Earl of Clarendon, attempted to blackmail the King and Queen with letters belonging to Amelia, after the disappearance of £280,000 in his control. (George was father of later diplomat and statesman George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon).

External links and references

• The Prince Regent and His Circle
• Cranbourne Lodge, Georgian Index