George IV and Mrs. Fitzherbert

The Royal Marriages Act, a law passed by George's father, stated that members of the Royal Family couldn't marry without the King's consent. In addition, Maria was a Catholic and the English law banned those in the line of succession to the throne from marrying a Catholic. But in this case the saying "out of sight, out of mind" didn't prove true for Prinny. He was still in love with Maria, who, tired of spending time on the continent, returned to London in November 1785. She now agreed to marry him properly. On 15th December 1785, in her London home, the couple was married by Mr Bart, an Anglican priest. It was rumoured that he agreed to celebrate the wedding because the Prince had promised to pay his debts or even bail him out of prison.

The Devonshires had been invited to the wedding but thought best not to go. Instead, the bride's brother Jack Smythe and uncle Henry Errington served as witnesses. Although the marriage was null and void by English law, both the Catholic and Anglican Churches considered it legal and, for the rest of her life, Maria considered herself George's true wife. After living together (but not openly) for several years, the Prince, who had extravagant tastes and spent lavishly, was forced by the government to marry Princess Caroline of Brunswick and beget an hair in exchange for his debts being paid off. The marriage was a disaster though and Prinny continued to see Maria. When he died he wore a miniature of her. He was buried with it.