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George I set off for a visit to Hanover again in this year but, sadly, never made it; well not alive. He suffered a stroke in his carriage on 9 June, was taken to a nearby palace but died on 11 June 1727. He was succeeded by his son who now became George II. In line with tradition he had been the Prince of Wales, a title given to the monarch's eldest son.
George I and his son had a poor relationship. In 1717, the Prince of Wales had a son. At the baptism, the Prince of Wales insulted a friend of George I who was to be a godparent. The Prince of Wales was ordered by the King to move out of the Royal residence, St James's Palace. He and his wife, Princess Caroline left and moved to a place called Leicester House but the King did not allow their children, his grandchildren to go with them. They stayed with him and his wife.
Some years later George I and his son got back together but they were never again on friendly terms. Sadly, the little boy who was being baptised only lived for three months.
George I had been quite old when he became King. He was 54. English was not his first language but some of his letters, he wrote loads, showed that he could certainly write English to a good standard. He tended to rely more and more on his ministers, particularly Sir Robert Walpole. When the King and his son were not talking, they sometimes tried to outdo each other with the various parties and banquets they held. As George was older, his guests tended to be of that age too while the younger people would go to events held by the Prince of Wales.
Also, as Walpole was a Whig politician, the Tory party would be more likely to be seen with and around the Prince of Wales. There was a rumour that when he became King in 1727, George II wanted to get rid of Walpole as Prime Minister. However, as we know, at that time Walpole had a large majority in Parliament so the King had no choice but to keep Walpole on.
George I became King at a difficult time with some people still wanting a Catholic monarch. He set in place a dynasty that would last for nearly 200 years until the death of Queen Victoria.
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