Sinful Facts About King George IV, The Royal Rake
Born a royal heir into the very lap of luxury, King George IV somehow managed to push the envelope of excess even further. Never was a king so depraved, so cruel, or so obscene—and we’re talking about the English monarchy here.
From his dark family secrets to his mega embarrassing end, you’re going to want to pour a jumbo glass out for this one.
King George IV Facts
1. He Was Spoiled Rotten
Born on August 12, 1762, George was the eldest child of King George III and his queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Quite obviously, little George’s childhood was a charmed one, full of royal appointments and plush dinners. Yet behind the gilded veneer of all this opulence, the royal family had a dark, rotten core.
2. His Family Was Literally Insane
George’s father King George III is now infamous as “The Mad King.” Throughout much of his life, the old king suffered from bouts of insanity. It got so bad that George even had to take over as Prince Regent, producing what we now call “The Regency Period.” It was a hefty responsibility…which might explain why he screwed it up so spectacularly.
3. His Employees Hated Him
At the end of the rollercoaster ride that was his reign, George IV’s own senior aide wrote about the king in his private diary: "A more contemptible, cowardly, selfish, unfeeling dog does not exist...
There have been good and wise kings but not many of them...and this I believe to be one of the worst.” What I’m saying is: buckle up, guys.
The Madness of King George (1994), The Samuel Goldwyn Company