Marriage contrary to Royal Marriages Act (Royal family history: www.britroyals.com)
Royal Mistress. Born Mary Anne Smythe the eldest daughter of Walter Smythe and Mary Anne Errington. At 18 she married Edward Weld who died three months after the wedding. She married again in 1778 to Thomas Fitzherbert. He died in May 1781 leaving her a comfortable income. The Widow Fitzherbert was introduced to George, Prince of Wales in 1784 and in an utterly illegal arrangement, running directly counter to English law, the couple were allegedly and secretly married on December 15, 1785. Rumors of the secret marriage leaked out, but the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert remained together until 1794 when Prince George became betrothed to Caroline of Brunswick. He abruptly broke off with Mrs. Fitzherbert, leaving his erstwhile wife with a comfortable allowance and married as directed in April 1795, any contract he might have made previously was ignored as illegal. After the birth of Princess Charlotte in 1796, the prince separated from his despised wife and returned to Mrs. Fitzherbert in about 1800, they remained together until about 1811 when a split between them became permanent. Mrs. Fitzherbert retired to Brighton. She survived George IV by seven years, and died at the age of eighty at Brighton.
Bio by: Iola