Posted 9 years ago
Bluboi
(103 items)
Most rare ring, circa 1820, in support of Caroline of Brunswick [1768-1821], Queen Consort of King George IV.
George, Prince of Wales, and Princess Caroline of Brunswick were married on 8 April 1795. Although they were first cousins, the couple had not met before the marriage was arranged. Neither the Prince of Wales nor the Princess Caroline wanted the match, but they both agreed to it.
See an excellent and detailed write-up here:
http://www.regencyhistory.net/2011/11/george-iv-and-queen-caroline-disastrous.html
Though the King despised his wife, she was popular with the British people and also had many supporters of noble rank. George wished to divorce Caroline for her alleged adultery with an Italian manservant whilst traveling abroad, though he himself had many mistresses. The King insisted a bill be put before Parliament to dissolve the marriage.
The debate over this bill lasted for over three months and was effectively a most public trial of his wife. Eventually the bill was defeated but on the day of George's coronation, Caroline was refused entry to Westminster Abbey - the door was literally shut in her face.
Poor Caroline died two weeks later. On her coffin, a gilt plate was affixed with her own epitaph - here lies Caroline of Brunswick, the injured Queen of England.
This ring, for a supporter of the injured Queen, has a rayed enameled center inscribed CR for Caroline Regina under a Royal Crown. It is surrounded by stones spelling her name in the acrostic manner -
Citrine, Amethyst, Ruby, Opal, Lapis, Jacinth [used for I], Novas Minas [rock crystal], Emerald.
The center has been re-mounted in a later setting. A most poignant item of Royalist jewelry.
Click straight through:
http://www.regencyhistory.net/2011/11/george-iv-and-queen-caroline-disastrous.html
Another historical piece, woah!
So sad story, such a long marriage beeing unhappy from the very beginning...
Poor Caroline.
Additional sadness, as their only child, Princess Charlotte, died after a tortuous two-day, 50-hour labor giving birth to a still-born son on November 5, 1817. Given that medicine was so primitive at the time, and "non-intervention" was the medical philosophy of the day, her labor must have been horrific.
In stark contrast to her father, the Prince Regent, who was universally despised, the young princess was extremely popular, and her pregnancy was closely followed by an enthusiastic public. Charlotte had been married a mere seventeen months before to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha amid pomp and splendor.
A dutiful young Regency wife, she became pregnant almost immediately, but suffered two miscarriages before carrying her third child to full term. Though her grandfather, George III, had 7 sons and 5 daughters, Charlotte was the only legitimate grandchild. Thus this pregnancy was a truly significant one.
Her death elicited a national outpouring of grief that was unprecedented in Britain, and her funeral drew massive mourning crowds on a scale similar to those who thronged to Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.
sweet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
And now, there is a new Prince George & Princess Charlotte.