A ROYAL MYSTERY

I was thrilled to read in the spring issue mention of Hannah Lightfoot in an article by Paul James on King George III. He writes that George had a dalliance with a cobbler’s daughter, but it was probably more serious.

This episode in English history is not well known except, perhaps, amongst members of the Society of Friends of which Hannah was a member. Known as the lovely Quaker, her father died when she was only a child, so she and her mother went to live with an uncle, Mr Wheeler, a draper of St James Market, London.

It’s said that she sat in the window of his shop to watch the Royal Family on their way to Drury Lane Theatre.

Prince George became attracted to her and possibly with the help of one of his mother’s ladies-in-waiting, meetings were arranged.

When the relationship became too serious, both the court and her family became alarmed. Therefore it was arranged that Hannah should marry Isaac Axford in 1753 at Keith’s

Chapel in Mayfair.

As she left the chapel, she was hustled into a coach and driven away, never to be seen again by family and friends. It’s thought she moved from one mansion to another so that she was not detected. The marriage was never consummated so it was ignored and when Isaac remarried he described himself as a widower.

George and Hannah were married in April 1759. The certificate is held by the Public Record Office. Reputedly there were three children who, like their mother, have disappeared from the pages of history though there have been several claimants to their birthright, the most well-known being the family of George Rex of Capetown, South Africa. He never spoke of his origins, but was said to bear a close resemblance to George III and the family treasured many fine artefacts which seemed to indicate a royal connection.

It is not known when or where Hannah died or where she is buried. George married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1761, but it has been asserted that a second marriage to Charlotte took place in 1765. Perhaps this indicates that Hannah had died so the royal couple wanted to ensure the legitimacy of their marriage. Who knows?

A portrait of Hannah can be seen at Knole House, Sevenoaks, painted by Joshua Reynolds. Unfortunately, his record of portraits painted around that time has disappeared, along with other papers that may have contained relevant information.

Brian Arundel Esq.,

Siegen, Germany