George II (1727–1760) – The Last British King to Fight in Battle and the Defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie

Who Was George II?

George II inherited the throne from his father George I in 1727. Like his father, he had been born in Hanover in Germany and remained deeply attached to it, but unlike George I he had lived in Britain for many years before becoming king and spoke English.

George II

George loved soldiers, uniforms, military history and routine. He could also be bad-tempered and incredibly fussy—Historic Royal Palaces records stories of him becoming so angry that he would pull off his wig and kick it around the room. He wasn't Britain's most charismatic king, but two major things make him worth remembering: he was the last British monarch to personally fight alongside his troops in battle, and during his reign the Stuarts made their final serious attempt to get the throne back.

The Last British King to Fight in Battle

George wasn't a king who simply sent other people off to fight. In 1743, aged nearly 60, he accompanied his army during the Battle of Dettingen in what is now Germany, where British and allied forces fought the French.

George was present with his troops during the battle and became the last reigning British monarch to fight alongside his soldiers on a battlefield. No British king or queen has done it since.

For a man who apparently enjoyed talking endlessly about military uniforms and battles, this was very much his moment.

Bonnie Prince Charlie Comes for the Crown

George's biggest threat at home came from one of Britain's most romantic historical figures: Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Bonnie Prince Charlie

His real name was Charles Edward Stuart, and he was the grandson of James II—the Catholic king driven from England during the Glorious Revolution. Charles believed the throne rightfully belonged to his family and in 1745 landed in Scotland to try to take it back.

Supported by Jacobites, particularly from parts of the Scottish Highlands, Charles's army achieved some remarkable early successes. They marched south into England and got as far as Derby, causing genuine alarm in London. But they turned back.

The rebellion ended at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, where government forces commanded by George II's son, the Duke of Cumberland, decisively defeated the Jacobite army. Charles escaped and eventually returned to Europe. The Stuart dream of recovering the British throne was effectively over.

Queen Caroline – The Brains Behind the Court?

George's wife Queen Caroline deserves more attention than she usually gets. She was intelligent, politically astute and fascinated by philosophy, science and the arts. She hosted gatherings of leading thinkers at Kensington Palace and acted as regent when George was away in Hanover.

George and Caroline had their arguments, and George had mistresses, but theirs was a remarkably strong royal partnership. George trusted Caroline's political judgement, and when she died in 1737 he was devastated and refused to remarry.

Caroline also helped transform Kensington Gardens, moving away from very formal gardens towards a more natural landscape. So when you're strolling around Kensington today, she is an important part of the story.

Kensington Palace

Another Georgian Family Feud

George II had spent years fighting with his own father, George I. You might imagine that experience would make him determined to have a wonderful relationship with his eldest son. It didn't.

George and Caroline couldn't stand their eldest son Frederick, Prince of Wales. The family arguments became spectacularly nasty, and Frederick established a rival court of politicians and courtiers opposed to his parents. Frederick died before his father, so he never became king. Instead, when George II eventually died, the crown passed to Frederick's son—George III. The Georgian tradition of fathers and sons hating each other remained impressively consistent.

Britain Is Becoming a Global Power

Something much bigger was happening beyond all the royal family drama. During George II's reign, Britain was becoming increasingly powerful overseas and the early foundations of the Industrial Revolution were being laid at home.

British forces and trading interests expanded dramatically in India, while victory over France in North America culminated in the capture of Quebec in 1759. Britain's population, trade, coal production and shipbuilding were also growing.

George II wasn't personally responsible for all of this—the monarch was already becoming less important in everyday government—but by the end of his reign Britain was emerging as a major global power. And that growing empire included thirteen increasingly important colonies in North America. We'll be hearing from them very shortly.

Three Things to See

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace was the heart of George and Caroline's court. Caroline entertained politicians, scientists, writers and philosophers here, while George enjoyed rather more predictable evenings of cards and routine. You can still visit the King's State Apartments, where you'll find busts of George II and Caroline. George also died at Kensington Palace in 1760, and after his death no reigning monarch slept there again for almost 70 years.

Hampton Court Palace

George II and Caroline regularly used Hampton Court during the early years of their reign, making them the last monarchs to use it extensively as a royal residence. Their court filled the palace with dinners, gambling, gossip, political manoeuvring and the usual Georgian family arguments. When you're there, explore the Georgian rooms as well as Henry VIII's famous Tudor palace. Hampton Court is brilliant because you can walk from the world of Henry VIII straight into the world of the Georges without leaving the building.

The British Museum

The British Museum was founded during George II's reign. In 1753 Parliament established the museum around the enormous collection of physician and collector Sir Hans Sloane, and it opened to the public in 1759. It became the world's first national public museum of its kind. The enormous Greek Revival building you see today came later, so George wouldn't recognise the present façade—but the institution itself began while he was king.

Did You Know? – George II Had Underwear for Different Days of the Week

George loved routine and organisation to an almost comical degree. Historic Royal Palaces records an account that even his underwear was numbered according to the days of the week. This was a king who could lead troops into battle but apparently didn't want the uncertainty of accidentally wearing Tuesday's underwear on a Wednesday.

It's difficult to imagine Henry VIII tolerating such a system.

Historical Highlights

1727 – George II becomes king.

1737 – Queen Caroline dies at Kensington Palace.

1743 – George fights at the Battle of Dettingen, becoming the last British monarch to fight alongside his troops.

1745 – Bonnie Prince Charlie launches the Jacobite Rising.

1746 – Jacobites are defeated at the Battle of Culloden.

1753 – The British Museum is established.

1759 – British forces capture Quebec from the French.

1760 – George II dies at Kensington Palace; his grandson becomes George III.

Imagine This...

It's 1745 and London is suddenly nervous. A handsome young prince from the exiled Stuart family has landed in Scotland, gathered an army and is marching south claiming that George II is sitting on a throne that rightfully belongs to him. His name is Charles Edward Stuart—Bonnie Prince Charlie—and his forces have reached Derby, only around 130 miles from London. Rumours race through the capital that the Jacobites are coming, but then Charles's commanders make the crucial decision to turn back towards Scotland. Within months the dream is over. At Culloden, George II's son defeats the Jacobite army, Charles escapes and the Stuarts will never again make a serious attempt to recover the British throne.

Guide's Insider Tip

When you're visiting Kensington Palace, spend some time in the King's State Apartments rather than thinking of the palace only as the home of Princess Diana or the birthplace of Queen Victoria. This was once the centre of George II and Queen Caroline's glittering Georgian court, and you can still see their portraits and busts inside. Then head into Kensington Gardens and think about Queen Caroline. She helped reshape these gardens almost 300 years ago, including creating the Serpentine, which still forms one of the most recognisable features of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens today.

And if you're visiting Hampton Court, don't stop your royal story at Henry VIII. Walk into the Georgian apartments and suddenly you're in George and Caroline's world. They were the last monarchs to make serious use of Hampton Court as a royal home, which is why the palace feels like several different royal eras stitched together.

What Happened Next?

George II's eldest son Frederick had already died, so when the king died in 1760 the crown skipped a generation and passed to his 22-year-old grandson.

Unlike George I and George II, this new king was born in Britain, spoke English as his first language and proudly regarded himself as British. His name was George III. He would reign for almost 60 years while Britain fought Napoleon, expanded its empire and experienced enormous industrial change. Unfortunately, there's one other thing Americans remember him for. He lost the thirteen colonies.