D M Potts, W T W Potts Alan Sutton, pounds sterling18.99, pp 160 ISBN 0 7509 0868 8

The death of Princess Charlotte in 1817 was mourned by the whole nation. She died at the age of 21, shortly after delivering a stillborn male infant. Their deaths left the succession to the British throne in disarray. Although George III and Queen Charlotte had had fifteen children, Princess Charlotte was their only legitimate grandchild. In the ensuing quest to produce heirs, Prince Edward, the fourth son of George III, married Victoire at the age of 51; and their only daughter, Victoria, became Queen of England on the death of King William IV.

Queen Victoria was a successful dynast whose children and grandchildren married widely among the …