Princess Elizabeth of Clarence

Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of Clarence (Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide) (December 10, 1820-March 4, 1821) was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of King George III. At the time of her birth she was third in the line of succession to the British throne.

Princess Elizabeth was born on December 10, 1820 at St James's Palace, London. Her father was HRH The Prince William, Duke of Clarence, the third eldest son of King George III. Her mother was HRH The Duchess of Clarence (nee Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen). As a granddaughter of the British monarch, she was styled Royal Highness from birth.

The birth of Princess Elizabeth was a significant event in 19th century Britain. Her father, the Duke of Clarence, was the second in line to the throne following the death of Elizabeth's cousin, HRH Princess Charlotte in 1817, and their grandfather George III in 1820. Since the Duke's two elder brothers, King George IV and the Duke of York were both without legitimate children, and the King was estranged from his wife and the Duke of York unmarried, it seemed likely that Princess Elizabeth would succeed as Queen in years to come. Her mother, the Duchess of Clarence, had several difficult pregnancies, and Elizabeth's elder sister, Princess Charlotte of Clarence, died on the day of her birth, making it unlikely for the Duke and Duchess to produce any more children.

Sadly, Princess Elizabeth also died in infancy, succumbing to convulsions on March 4, 1821. Her cousin, HRH Princess Victoria of Kent, whose place she took in the line of succession on her birth, succeeded Elizabeth's father and became Queen in 1837. If Elizabeth had survived, Victoria would not have became Queen and there would have been no Victorian Era.

See Also

• List of British princesses