Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh

William Henry (born 14 Novemberjul / November 25 1743greg in London. . † August 25, 1805 ) was a member of the British royal family.

Life

William Henry was the third son of the Prince of Wales, Friedrich Ludwig of Hanover, and his wife Princess Augusta of Saxe- Gotha -Altenburg. His older brother of King George III. awarded him in 1764 the title of Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh.

William Henry was best known for his secret marriage with Maria Walpole on September 6, 1766, an illegitimate granddaughter of Sir Robert Walpole. This wedding and his brother gave rise to the adoption of the Royal Marriages Act; by this law it was forbidden royals under 25 to marry without permission of the reigning monarch. His wife bore him the following children:

• Sophia Matilda (1773-1844), unmarried
• Caroline Auguste (1774-1775)
• Wilhelm Friedrich (1776-1834), Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh ∞ Princess Mary of Great Britain, Ireland and Hanover