King George III had his first serious period of "madness" between 1788 and 1789. His son, the Prince of Wales, did nothing to take away his father's worry. By 1794, the Prince had borrowed a total of around £640,000. George III took the view that his eldest son should keep better company and marry a woman suitable to become queen.
The king refused to pay off his son's debts unless the Prince left Maria Fitzherbert and agreed to an approved marriage.
Parliament, too, was concerned about the Prince, following the king's first attack of insanity. The "Tory" William Pitt wanted to limit the Prince's powers when he became ruler (Prince Regent) in place of his father. William Pitt knew that the Prince mixed with many people from the opposing political party "The Whigs". He did not want the Prince to bring people from the Opposition party to power.
The Prince was also aware that while he was playing romantic games, many of his father's subjects were dying for their country in the battles against France. It was his duty to protect the monarchy by agreeing to an "approved marriage" and fathering a suitable successor.
In June 1794, having had several affairs with ladies other than Maria, the Prince separated from her, leaving her a yearly allowance of £6,000.
Then on 8th April 1795, George Prince of Wales made a legal marriage to his cousin, Princess Caroline of Brunswick.
.The new couple arrived in Brighton in June, but had to stay at Marlborough House since Marine Pavilion was being decorated.
This was a "marriage without love". In fact, the Prince found his new wife dirty and uncultivated. He even had to drink brandy when he was overcome by her bad body odour.
The Prince soon found another lover by appointing Lady Jersey lady-in-waiting to his new wife. While Lady Jersey was really waiting for the Prince of Wales, George could not wait to get back to his real love, Maria Fitzherbert.
It seemed that he had secured the Protestant Succession, because in London on 7th January 1796, Princess Caroline gave birth to a daughter - Princess Charlotte.
Princess Charlotte had a room in the Royal Pavilion Brighton, which can still be viewed. There is also a street in East Brighton (Charlotte Street), which is named after her.
Charlotte never lived to become queen. She married Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg on 2 May 1816 and died aged 21 in trying unsuccessfully to give birth in 1817. Her mother, Caroline of Brunswick, died four years later, soon after her husband was crowned King George IV at Westminster in 1921.
The Prince of Wales had little time for his official wife. In 1796, he left all his possessions to Maria Fitzherbert in his will and begged her to get back together with him. His treatment of Caroline lost him a lot of sympathy in Brighton, so he had to spend his 1796 seaside holiday in nearby Bognor.