Industrial revolution to Modern Monarchs 1820-present

George IV 1820-1830 Reigned as Regent for 9 years before becoming king Sexually voracious in his early years, enjoying a huge number of mistresses His earliest mistress was an actress called Mary Robinson Only woman whom he had a lasting love for was a Catholic widow named Mrs. Fitzherbert who he secretly married but had to have annulled to marry an official wife A patron of the arts Fathered 1 heir, Charlotte, who died in childbirth.

William IV 1830-1837 A former sailor, called “Silly Billy” Became king at 65 The Reform Bill was pushed through Parliment in 1832, allowing the middle class to vote for the first time Tried to move away from democracy by dismissing Parliment in order to try to change the party in power Hated the Dutchess of Kent, the mother of Victoria, and hoped that he would last until Victoria became old enough to rule. He did, and his niece Victoria took the throne after him

Queen Victoria 1837-1901 Was the longest reigning monarch (63 years, 216 days) Married her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and dispite her dislike of childbearing, they had 9 children Albert died of Typhus after 21 years of marriage Victoria wore black, was hardly seen in public, and lived as a recluse

Victoria Cont. The British empire grew in power, new parts of the world were explored, the industrial revolution transformed the modern world No previous monarch became so loved as Victoria, and her death in 1901 stunned the nation

Edward VII 1901-1910 Victoria made it clear as he grew up that she didn’t like him Prince Albert went to Cambridge to tell off Edward for having an affair with an actress when he caught typhoid and died, causing Victoria to blame Edward for his death

George V 1910-1936 Remembered as the founder of the House of Windsor Ruled during World War I Many of his closest relations were German Suffered a broken pelvis when he was thrown from a horse Had doubts about his son Edward VIII

Edward VIII 1936 Abdicated the throne in 1936 The “Abdication Crisis” was quickly overshadowed by the looming World War II Married Wallis Simpson, an American woman who had already divorced 1 husband and was about to divorce a 2nd The Prime Minister gave him an ultimatum: give up the throne or give her up

George VI 1936-1952 Had been completely overshadowed by his brother and was unprepared Had a terrible stammer, which he eventually overcame Fell in love and married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon WWII began almost immediately after his coronation, and both he and Elizabeth stayed in London throughout the war Smoked heavily and died of lung cancer

Elizabeth II 1952-present Despite the crowds and the press, she remains a private individual Fell in love with her distant cousin Prince Philip of Greece when he was 18 and she was 13. They married in 1947 Insisted on having her coronation televised