The death of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the future George IV, in 1817 due to complications following the birth of a stillborn son, was a personal tragedy for the family but it didn't end there. The knock-on impact of Charlotte's death was far-reaching, the family's grief was echoed across the country but beyond that, there was now a succession crisis worse than any in English history.  There was not one surviving, legitimate, grandchild of George III. The loss of Charlotte and her baby wiped out two generations of legitimate heirs. It was the 'race for a new heir' which led to the birth of Victoria, later Queen Victoria. Yet, many people have not heard of Charlotte. Type her name in search engines and they will return, understandably, countless pictures of the daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  Such is the tragedy and significance of Princess Charlotte's story that it is one we should all know. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Watch the episode on Princess Charlotte. This podcast is free and will remain so but if you'd like to support me whilst also accessing exclusive content, perks, free gifts and more, you can join my Patreon club at www.Patreon.com/BritishHistory and support for as little as £3 a month. (Perks depend on tier selected). Support for Free by liking, commenting and sharing this podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/british-history/message