1. Industrial revolution to Modern Monarchs
1820-present

2. George IV 1820-1830 Reigned as Regent for 9 years before becoming king
Sexually voracious in his early years, enjoying a huge number of mistresses
His earliest mistress was an actress called Mary Robinson
Only woman whom he had a lasting love for was a Catholic widow named Mrs. Fitzherbert who he secretly married but had to have annulled to marry an official wife
A patron of the arts
Fathered 1 heir, Charlotte, who died in childbirth.

3. William IV 1830-1837 A former sailor, called “Silly Billy”
Became king at 65
The Reform Bill was pushed through Parliment in 1832, allowing the middle class to vote for the first time
Tried to move away from democracy by dismissing Parliment in order to try to change the party in power
Hated the Dutchess of Kent, the mother of Victoria, and hoped that he would last until Victoria became old enough to rule. He did, and his niece Victoria took the throne after him

4. Queen Victoria
Was the longest reigning monarch (63 years, 216 days)
Married her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and dispite her dislike of childbearing, they had 9 children
Albert died of Typhus after 21 years of marriage
Victoria wore black, was hardly seen in public, and lived as a recluse

5. Victoria Cont.
The British empire grew in power, new parts of the world were explored, the industrial revolution transformed the modern world
No previous monarch became so loved as Victoria, and her death in 1901 stunned the nation

6. Edward VII
Victoria made it clear as he grew up that she didn’t like him
Prince Albert went to Cambridge to tell off Edward for having an affair with an actress when he caught typhoid and died, causing Victoria to blame Edward for his death

7. George V 1910-1936 Remembered as the founder of the House of Windsor
Ruled during World War I
Many of his closest relations were German
Suffered a broken pelvis when he was thrown from a horse
Had doubts about his son Edward VIII

8. Edward VIII 1936 Abdicated the throne in 1936
The “Abdication Crisis” was quickly overshadowed by the looming World War II
Married Wallis Simpson, an American woman who had already divorced 1 husband and was about to divorce a 2nd
The Prime Minister gave him an ultimatum: give up the throne or give her up

9. George VI
Had been completely overshadowed by his brother and was unprepared
Had a terrible stammer, which he eventually overcame
Fell in love and married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
WWII began almost immediately after his coronation, and both he and Elizabeth stayed in London throughout the war
Smoked heavily and died of lung cancer

10. Elizabeth II
1952-present
Despite the crowds and the press, she remains a private individual
Fell in love with her distant cousin Prince Philip of Greece when he was 18 and she was 13. They married in 1947
Insisted on having her coronation televised