THE INCAPACITY OF GEORGE III CREATES A STORM
The reign of George III was punctuated by bouts of illness, causing chaos for Parliament. By November 1788, it seemed a regency was inevitable – and the Prince of Wales was the obvious choice. Tory Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger was aware that the Prince was likely to dismiss him in favour of his Whig rival, Charles James Fox. Arguments went back and forth between the two parties over how much power should be granted to the Prince, but before a bill could be passed, the King rallied. Crisis averted, for now.
George III continued to suffer ill health and, in 1811, a regency was finally imposed. The Prince of Wales ruled in his name until George died in 1820
ALAMY X1, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS X1, GETTY X2, DANIEL WESTFALL X1-