Mary Anne Fitzherbert

nee Mary Anne Smythe (26 July 1756, Brighton - 27 March 1837, Brighton). Mistress of the Prince of Wales (the future George IV), whom the Catholic widow married in 1785. The marriage was considered invalid because George lacked the consent of the sovereign (his father, George III), as required by the Royal Marriages Act thus she never earned the title Queen of England. Since Maria Fitzherbert was a Catholic, the marriage would have led to George's exclusion from the succession to the throne (under the provisions of the Act of Settlement) - it did not as the marriage was declared null and void. They had at least two ilegitimate children. The couple came under pressure when George IV faced high debts of £ 640,000 and was forced to marry Caroline of Brunswick in return for the King paying off his debts. Although the King tried to divorce Caroline in 1820 the divorce did not go through. But as their marriage was not a very harmonious one the relationship between George and Maria went on. The relationship ended in 1794 and the Price left Maria with £ 6,000 per year to live on. Two years later, however, the Prince begged her to get back with her and left all his possessions to her. The relationship ends in 1811.

Maria Fitzherbert lived in Steine House, which has become a hostel for the homeless, from 1804 until her death in 1837.

1 royal.gov.uk [[1]]

2 britroyals.com [[2]]

3 History of Brighton [[3]]