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Maria Fitzherbert

Photo:Maria Fitzherbert's plaque

Maria Fitzherbert's plaque

Photo by Tony Mould

Photo:Steine House in the Old Steine

Steine House in the Old Steine

Photo by Tony Mould

Maria Fitzherbert's house in the Old Steine
By Jennifer Drury

Maria Fitzherbert was the morganatic or unofficial wife of George IV. Maria was 29 years old when they married in a secret ceremony on 15 December 1785, in Park Street, London.  Maria had been twice widowed and was a Roman Catholic.  The then Prince of Wales did not have his father's permission for the marriage and so under the Royal Marriage Act of 1722, it was illegal.

The Prince of Wales was later forced to distance himself from Mrs Fitzherbert and settle for an official marriage on 8th August 1795 to a woman he did not love - his cousin, Princess Caroline of Brunswick.  After separating from Caroline, the Prince resumed his relationship with Maria in 1804, but they never lived together.

George had Steine House, conveniently close to the Royal Pavilion, built for Maria.  She died there in 1837 having survived the Prince by seven years.  She is buried near the altar of St John the Baptist's Catholic Church in Bristol Road (East Brighton).

This page was added on 28/08/2006.

Comments:

A Brighton urban myth (or is it?) is that a tunnel used to lead from Steine House to the Royal Pavilion for the private use of Mrs. Fitzherbert and George IV.

By Adrian Baron (25/01/2007)

I have been into the basement of Marlborough House (next door) and I seem to remember a tunnel entrance that was bricked up heading towards Steine House.

By Neil Underhill (26/03/2007)

I have looked in the basement at Steine House and have also seen a bricked up archway heading in the right direction.

By Spooky (22/03/2008)

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