PRINCESS ELIZABETH OF CLARENCE

'Princess Elizabeth of Clarence' (Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide) (10 December 1820 – 4 March 1821) was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of King George III. At the time of her birth she was third in the line of succession to the British throne.

Contents

Early life

Heiress

Death

Titles, Styles, Honours & Arms

Titles

See also

References

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 (later King William IV), the third eldest son of King George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her mother was The Duchess of Clarence (nee Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen), the daughter of George I, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
As a granddaughter of the 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, King George IV and Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany were both without legitimate children, and the King was estranged from his wife and the Duke of York unmarried, 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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

Titles, Styles, Honours & Arms

Titles

★ '1820-1821': ''Her Royal Highness'' Princess Elizabeth of Clarence
As a granddaughter of King George III, Princess Elizabeth would normally have been styled ''Royal Highness''. However, the London Gazette of the 6th of 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."^[4]

See also

★ List of British princesses

References

1. Find a Grave.com
2. Letter from King George IV
3. Wards Book of Days- 4th March
4. Heraldica.org