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The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke
For nearly 60 years, King George III reigned over a tumultuous kingdom. His health and realm were in turmoil, while family life held challenges of its own. From the corpulent Prinny and the Grand Old Duke of York, to a king who battled the Lords and the disciplinarian Duke of Kent, this is the story of the elder sons of George III.
Born over the course of half a decade of upheaval, George, Frederick, William, and Edward defined an era. Their scandals intrigued the nation and their efforts to build lives away from the shadow of their impossibly pious parents led them down diverse paths. Whether devoting their lives to the military or to pleasure, every moment was captured in the full glare of the spotlight.
The sons of George III were prepared from infancy to take their place on the world's stage, but as the king's health failed and the country lurched from one drama to the next, they found that duty was easier said than done. With scandalous romances, illegal marriages, rumors of corruption and even the odd kidnapping plot, their lives were as breathless as they were dramatic. In The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke, travel from Great Britain to America and on to Hanover in the company of princes who were sometimes scandalous, sometimes sensational, but never, ever dull.
Born over the course of half a decade of upheaval, George, Frederick, William, and Edward defined an era. Their scandals intrigued the nation and their efforts to build lives away from the shadow of their impossibly pious parents led them down diverse paths. Whether devoting their lives to the military or to pleasure, every moment was captured in the full glare of the spotlight.
The sons of George III were prepared from infancy to take their place on the world's stage, but as the king's health failed and the country lurched from one drama to the next, they found that duty was easier said than done. With scandalous romances, illegal marriages, rumors of corruption and even the odd kidnapping plot, their lives were as breathless as they were dramatic. In The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke, travel from Great Britain to America and on to Hanover in the company of princes who were sometimes scandalous, sometimes sensational, but never, ever dull.
- GenresHistory
200 pages, Hardcover
Published December 28, 2020
34 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Curzon
57 books190 followersCatherine Curzon writes books about old Hollywood and even older royals. She writes WW2 sagas for Orion as Ellie Curzon.
Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.
Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 20, 2020
A wonderful historical fiction of King George III's four oldest sons -- George, Frederick, William, and Edward. It told about each one's lives which were incredibly fascinating. It was an easy educational read and quick read. Fantastic for beginning monarchy reading.
August 31, 2025
Another excellent book on British history! No wonder the current Royal Family has so many problems considering their past history. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
June 12, 2022
I'm always grateful to have a Curzon book to read in my list! When it comes to Regency history Cruzon is the first historian I turn to. Having read George III's daughters by Curzon I needed the balance of reading about the sons too. I found like the daughters I felt sad for the sons too, though some of what they did they brought on themselves ultimately separation from family and the need of finding love followed all of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 23, 2020
I don't know why I forgot during my read that it didn't include the youngest sons. I was waiting for the others. I guess that means I will request that book when it is written!
November 19, 2020
The Elder Sons Of George III, King,Princes and a Grand Old Duke... if you enjoy historical fiction, Catherine Curzon, she never disappoints in her books,her writing,the way she has with her words to make such a exciting story of this incredible time in English history!! Who is this Grand Old Duke? You will find out... Follow King George's time ruling over England,the scandels, the politics and the effects this family had not only in England but around the world in the 18th Century.. You begin to find out the different personalities of these sons--brothers and how the English survived this kind of rule over a course of 60 years,I think it was and how their behaviour affected English history. Who would make The best ruler next out of these brothers if their father ever died??The other characters who helped shape English history besides the sons, you will become to see who, what and where of how they all help created these time in history and the scandals, loves,hates, loyalty and decisions and why they were made.. George III and Queen Charlotte children,total 15 that lived.. When you do finish this fantastic story you will have much more insight into the family and shake your head at how they could actually get away with things and the people that these sons hurt,destroyed or tried to destroy not only the people in these brothers lives but their selves in the process.. I have read all of Miss Catherine's stories except for the daughters,sisters of this family,it's a must on my list!! This book takes you to another century another land and you travel the world where you actually feel as you are living in this time with all of these characters..you will also know who your friend is who is your enemy and become apart of this dysfunctional family and you will either love or not these brothers but understand more and it puts a whole new meaning or not on "Brotherery love"!! Received from Net Gallery and you I promise, not be disappointed in this amazing story of who King George III's sons were and had become as brothers...
September 4, 2020
Note: This book was provided at not cost by NetGalley, where this review has been posted.
Although I’ve just recently studied the history of the UK up to and stopping with Victoria via the excellent series by Peter Ackroyd, I cannot say I knew the period and royal personnel described in this book exceedingly well. Therefore, I was quite excited to be granted a free copy—for a non-historian, reading history books is always about learning new things, after all. I wasn’t disappointed by the trip, either. Catherine Curzon’s writing style is light, informative, and entertaining. She paints the different persons and the times in vivid colours, often with a little wink shining through the turns of her phrases, always sympathetic, even when talking about some less savoury characters. I’ve learned a lot of historical facts about George III and his wife Charlotte as well as their four eldest sons George (future King George IV), Frederick (the Grand Old Duke), William (future King William IV), and Edward. Very interesting indeed, the biographies are woven together to form a coherent narrative, sprinkled with anecdotes and character studies. The style is never pedantic, and the author always tries to remain non-judgmental, never really taking sides. A book I can recommend without a moment’s hesitation for those interested in that tumultuous period (Independence of the USA, French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, etc.).
Although I’ve just recently studied the history of the UK up to and stopping with Victoria via the excellent series by Peter Ackroyd, I cannot say I knew the period and royal personnel described in this book exceedingly well. Therefore, I was quite excited to be granted a free copy—for a non-historian, reading history books is always about learning new things, after all. I wasn’t disappointed by the trip, either. Catherine Curzon’s writing style is light, informative, and entertaining. She paints the different persons and the times in vivid colours, often with a little wink shining through the turns of her phrases, always sympathetic, even when talking about some less savoury characters. I’ve learned a lot of historical facts about George III and his wife Charlotte as well as their four eldest sons George (future King George IV), Frederick (the Grand Old Duke), William (future King William IV), and Edward. Very interesting indeed, the biographies are woven together to form a coherent narrative, sprinkled with anecdotes and character studies. The style is never pedantic, and the author always tries to remain non-judgmental, never really taking sides. A book I can recommend without a moment’s hesitation for those interested in that tumultuous period (Independence of the USA, French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, etc.).
September 9, 2021
📚I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It tells the stories of the first four sons of George III (hehe, as it says on the label).
🤴🏻🤴🏻🤴🏻🤴🏻
What looks like a line-up of heir and his spares, actually included two Kings, one father to a Queen Regnant and a Royal Duke, who died before he could inherit the throne. Together with the chapter on their mighty father, that makes for five well-told, well-researched chapters.
📖
As usual with her Georgian books, the author does her best not to repeat the narrative snippets when telling different stories that overlap temporally in any way.
👑
My favourite mini-biography of this volume was chapter three - the one on Frederick, the Duke of York and Albany - the one who, out of the four of them, didn’t get into the line of succession even retrospectively. Frederick’s war exploits and his army reforms were something I knew nothing about.
🎥
The only impression I had of him, was formed from Julian Rhind-Tutt’s performance in “The Madness of King George” in 1994, and that was almost no impression at all...I was glad out there was so much more to the real person. He deserves a limited series of his own.
✨
I sincerely hope there will be a book by the same author on the younger sons of George III as well, to complete the collection....🌟
🤴🏻🤴🏻🤴🏻🤴🏻
What looks like a line-up of heir and his spares, actually included two Kings, one father to a Queen Regnant and a Royal Duke, who died before he could inherit the throne. Together with the chapter on their mighty father, that makes for five well-told, well-researched chapters.
📖
As usual with her Georgian books, the author does her best not to repeat the narrative snippets when telling different stories that overlap temporally in any way.
👑
My favourite mini-biography of this volume was chapter three - the one on Frederick, the Duke of York and Albany - the one who, out of the four of them, didn’t get into the line of succession even retrospectively. Frederick’s war exploits and his army reforms were something I knew nothing about.
🎥
The only impression I had of him, was formed from Julian Rhind-Tutt’s performance in “The Madness of King George” in 1994, and that was almost no impression at all...I was glad out there was so much more to the real person. He deserves a limited series of his own.
✨
I sincerely hope there will be a book by the same author on the younger sons of George III as well, to complete the collection....🌟
December 3, 2020
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having found the author’s prior book about George III’s daughter’s enlightening, if a bit mundane, I enjoyed this look at the elder sons, especially since they were the ones who most closely shaped the succession and the rush to secure brides on the brothers’ part in order to sire the potential heir following George’s daughter Charlotte’s death is well known. Curzon perfectly strikes that balance between providing a good overview for those new to the topic and also providing insights for those who are more educated on the subject, so regardless of if you’re a historian or a hobbyist, there’s something worth cleaning from this text.
Having found the author’s prior book about George III’s daughter’s enlightening, if a bit mundane, I enjoyed this look at the elder sons, especially since they were the ones who most closely shaped the succession and the rush to secure brides on the brothers’ part in order to sire the potential heir following George’s daughter Charlotte’s death is well known. Curzon perfectly strikes that balance between providing a good overview for those new to the topic and also providing insights for those who are more educated on the subject, so regardless of if you’re a historian or a hobbyist, there’s something worth cleaning from this text.
April 4, 2024
This is an easy to read history of the lives of George III's 4 eldest sons. It is, at times, funny and heartbreaking. It's never dull. The author doesn't dig deep into their lives but is still able to provide a full portrait of the men. There is a lot of interesting information on George III and Queen Charlotte also. I especially liked the way the author contrasted public personas and popularity with private character and family relations. Each person is presented as separate biography which made it hard for me to completely understand the overall chronology but I think this may have been the best way to write it.
November 24, 2020
This was a good, well-researched book focusing on the first four of George III's sons. Less attention is paid to George IV ("Prinny"), since the author points out there are so many books about him out already. But Curzon still provides plenty of information to introduce a novice reader to George, as well as the others. She never assumes the reader knows about anyone ahead of time and gives a decent overview of all four men's lives. A good book to introduce readers to the time and the princes.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 19, 2023
Concise profiles of the four sons of George III--George (Prince of Wales, later George IV); Frederick (Duke of York); William (Duke of Clarence, later William IV); and Edward (Duke of Kent and father of Queen Victoria). None of the four ever became royal paragons of virtue so desired by their parents and the family dynamics were messy and fraught as a result. Anyone wanting more should read "A Royal Experiment: The Private Life of King George III".
December 14, 2023
An excellent book, easy to read and understand. This book gives interesting insights into the lives of the royal family right up to the time Victoria becomes Queen. I highly recommend this book.
December 10, 2025
I do not know how I missed this book from Catherine Curzon, who I have followed for more years than either of us would like to admit. Curzon always does her research and it shows.
September 29, 2020
A fabulous account of George III's elder sons, George, Frederick, William and Edward. None of the men seemed particularly likeable but they certainly lived eventful lives! Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews