The bitter king

Caroline’s relationship with her father-in-law, King≈George I, defined her early married life. In 1717, George I expelled his son, George Augustus, from court and he also assumed guardianship of his grandchildren. Caroline accompanied her husband during his banishment. In doing so, she forfeited custody of her baby son, who died weeks later, and her three daughters. Nevertheless, she maintained superficially civil relations with George I. Mistrusting her intentions and her intelligence, the king labelled her a ‘diablesse’ or she- devil. Caroline’s relationship with her son Frederick never recovered from the parting on which George I insisted.