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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Princess Mary was born, on [[25 April]] [[1776]], at [[Buckingham Palace]], [[London]]. Her father was the reigning British monarch, [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]], the eldest son of [[Frederick, Prince of Wales]] and [[Augusta of Saxe-Gotha]]. Her mother was [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte]] (née Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), the daughter of Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz). Around 1796 Mary fell in love with the Dutch prince Frederick, while he and his family where in exile in London. Frederik was the son of the Dutch stadholder [[William V, Prince of Orange]], and brother to [[William I of the Netherlands]]. However Frederik and Mary didn't married because George III let |
Princess Mary was born, on [[25 April]] [[1776]], at [[Buckingham Palace]], [[London]]. Her father was the reigning British monarch, [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]], the eldest son of [[Frederick, Prince of Wales]] and [[Augusta of Saxe-Gotha]]. Her mother was [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte]] (née Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), the daughter of Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz). Around 1796 Mary fell in love with the Dutch prince Frederick, while he and his family where in exile in London. Frederik was the son of the Dutch stadholder [[William V, Prince of Orange]], and brother to [[William I of the Netherlands]]. However Frederik and Mary didn't married because George III let her older sisters marry first. In 1799 Frederik died because of an infection in the army, and Mary was allowed to mourn officialy. |
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==Marriage== |
==Marriage== |
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| Princess Mary | |
|---|---|
| Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh | |
| Burial | 8 May 1857 |
| Spouse | Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester |
| House | House of Hanover |
| Father | George III |
| Mother | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
The Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (25 April 1776 - 30 April 1857) was a member of the British Royal Family, the eleventh (and last surviving) child and fourth daughter of George III.
Princess Mary was born, on 25 April 1776, at Buckingham Palace, London. Her father was the reigning British monarch, George III, the eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Her mother was Queen Charlotte (née Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), the daughter of Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz). Around 1796 Mary fell in love with the Dutch prince Frederick, while he and his family where in exile in London. Frederik was the son of the Dutch stadholder William V, Prince of Orange, and brother to William I of the Netherlands. However Frederik and Mary didn't married because George III let her older sisters marry first. In 1799 Frederik died because of an infection in the army, and Mary was allowed to mourn officialy.
Mary's upbringing was very sheltered and she spent most of her time with her parents and sisters. King George and Queen Charlotte were keen to shelter their children, particularly the girls. Mary, however, married on 22 July 1816, to her first cousin, Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, the son of George III's brother, Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, at the Chapel RoyalinSt James's Palace. On their wedding day, Mary's brother, The Prince Regent, granted William the style of His Royal Highness to give him an equal rank to Mary.
The couple lived together at White LodgeinWindsor. They had no children together. Princess Mary was said to be the favourite aunt of her niece, Queen Victoria. At the time of her death, she was the last surviving child of George III and Queen Charlotte.
Princess Mary was quite close to her eldest brother, and she shared his dislike toward his wife Caroline of Brunswick. When the latter left for Italy, Princess Mary congratulated her brother "on the prospect of a good riddance. Heaven grant that she may not return again and that we may never see more of her" [Charlotte Zeepvat's "George III's Children", p.106].
