2. The Prince of Wales became Prince Regent of Great Britain in 1810
Princess Amelia, the youngest of King George III and Queen Charlotte’s fifteen children, died in late 1810 after a lengthy period of ill health. The event triggered George III’s final collapse into mental illness, and in February, 1811, the Prince of Wales became Prince Regent through Parliamentary action. For the first year of what became the Regency his powers as monarch was restricted in some matters. After that, he held the same authority as the King. He inherited an ongoing war with Napoleon, a severely stratified population in Great Britain, and was, of course, in deep personal debt. His father rallied late in 1811, but quickly fell more deeply ill. He never resumed the throne, and died in January, 1820, unaware that his beloved wife’s death preceded his own.
During their brief period of living together, the Prince of Wales and Princess Caroline had one child together, a daughter they named Princess Charlotte. After their separation, her grandfather, George III assumed custody of her. The Prince Regent assumed custody of his daughter, though he left her care to servants and counselors. The Prince Regent spent considerable time and effort exhibiting his hatred of her mother, eventually, Caroline moved to Italy during his Regency. Though the Prince Regent had several public affairs, he had Parliament investigate his estranged wife for evidence of bearing an illegitimate child. If proved it have would allowed her to be charged with treason. Parliament found no such child but condemned her publicly for indiscretion.