How A Radical Queen’s Risky Choice Altered The Fate Of The Royals

If someone asked you to list British monarchs, a few names may spring immediately to mind once you were past asking “Why?” Obviously, there is the present head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. Then there’s Henry VIII. Queen Victoria, perhaps? King George III may just get a mention, too. But someone who probably isn’t on your radar is Queen Caroline. And without her, it’s likely that Britain would look very different today.

Unusual Royal

Caroline behaved unusually for a royal. She was honest, informal – even affectionate – towards her attendants and was known to express strong emotions. An intelligent ruler, she made it her business to interact with some of the greatest minds of the time. Once, she reportedly even tried to resolve a disagreement between Gottfried Leibniz and Isaac Newton!

Foreign Queen

But perhaps more shockingly, Caroline wasn’t actually born within the borders of her future kingdom. She was, in fact, from the German territory of Ansbach. And thanks to this, Caroline was fluent in three languages: German and French as well as English.

Superior Spouse

Yet despite her unconventional nature and heritage, Caroline made her way to the top of the British hierarchy. While her husband, George II, was crowned king in 1727, his – to put it kindly – lackluster abilities meant that Caroline would eventually sit on the throne. And although she had an unlikely rise to power, the monarch would go on to become an extremely influential figure in Britain and beyond.

Critical Decision

As we have subtly suggested, Caroline was much smarter than her husband. She therefore commanded a high degree of authority in British politics and daily life in general. In fact, at one stage during her time on the throne, Caroline made an important decision. And as it turns out, her actions changed her kingdom forever.