Princess Elizabeth of Clarence

Infobox British Royalty|royal
name = Princess Elizabeth
full name = Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide
titles = "HRH" Princess Elizabeth of Clarence
royal house = House of Hanover
father = William IV
mother = Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
date of birth = birth date|1820|12|10|df=yes
place of birth = St. James's Palace, London
date of death = death date and age|1821|3|4|1820|12|10|df=yes
place of burial = St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle|

Princess Elizabeth of Clarence (Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide; 10 December 1820 – 4 March 1821) was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III. Elizabeth would have succeeded to the throne instead of Queen Victoria, had it not been for her sudden and untimely death. If she had lived she would have ascended to the throne after the death of her father William IV. Princess Elizabeth, who it was assumed would become, in due course, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. At the time of her birth she was third in line of the order of succession to the British throne behind her uncle, Frederick, Duke of York and her father The Duke of Clarence.

Early life

Princess Elizabeth was born on 10 December 1820 at St. James's Palace, London. Her father was The Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (later William IV), the third eldest son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her mother was The Duchess of Clarence (née Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen), the daughter of George I, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

As a granddaughter of a British monarch, she was styled "Her Royal Highness" Princess Elizabeth of Clarence.

Heiress

The birth of Princess Elizabeth was a significant event in 19th century Britain. Her father, the Duke of Clarence, was the second in line to the throne following the death of Elizabeth's cousin, Princess Charlotte of Wales in 1817, and their grandfather George III in 1820. Since the Duke's two elder brothers, George IV and Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany were both without legitimate children, and the King and the Duke of York was estranged from their wives, it seemed likely that Princess Elizabeth would succeed as Queen in years to come. Her mother, the Duchess of Clarence, had several difficult pregnancies, and Elizabeth's elder sister, Princess Charlotte of Clarence, died on the day of her birth, making it unlikely for the Duke and Duchess to produce a son who could displace her. [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8045585 Find a Grave.com] ]

Death

Although she was born before term, Elizabeth enjoyed good health at first, however she died in infancy, succumbing to convulsions and dying of intertwining of the bowels on 4 March 1821. [ [http://www.biblio.com/books/72287531.html Letter from George IV] ] She was buried in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Her cousin, Princess Victoria of Kent, whose place she had taken in the line of succession on her birth, succeeded Elizabeth's father and became Queen in 1837.

Queen Victoria kept a bust of Princess Elizabeth in her private apartments in Kensington Palace. [ [http://www.wardsbookofdays.com/4march.htm Wards Book of Days- 4th March] ] [ [http://www.royaltyguide.nl/images-families/welfen/hannover3/1820%20Elizabeth.jpgPrincess Elizabeth's bust] ]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

*10 December 1820 – 4 March 1821: "Her Royal Highness" Princess Elizabeth of Clarence

As a granddaughter of George III, Princess Elizabeth would normally have been styled "Royal Highness". However, the London Gazette of the 6 March 1821 which announced her death gave her style as "Her Highness", noting her as "Niece to the King and granddaughter to the late king George the III." [ [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/HO_45_8933.htm Heraldica.org] ]

ee also

* British princess

References