WI: Charlotte of Wales marries the Prince of Orange

In 1814, plans were afoot by the Prince Regent to have his daughter married to the Prince of Orange, heir to William I of the Netherlands. There were serious discussions and Charlotte even signed the marriage treaty: there would be no personal union, with their eldest son becoming King of Britain and the second son becoming King of the Netherlands, with the German branch of the House of Orange succeeding to the Dutch throne in absence of a second son.

Charlotte had no desire to marry the Prince of Orange. She was infatuated with Prince Frederick of Prussia and hoped he might make his interest in marriage to her father. The Princess of Wales also disliked the Dutch match and had popular support; when Charlotte told the Prince of Orange that her mother would have to be welcome into their home, he refused, ultimately dooming the match, although the Prince Regent continued to force the match as late as 1815 despite opposition within the royal family.

While the Prince of Orange cannot openly favor Charlotte's mother given he is reliant upon the Prince Regent's approval to marry her, let's say that in a private meeting with Charlotte he agrees that her mother will be welcome in their home. This impresses Charlotte who abandons her infatuation with the Prussian Prince and agrees to marry the Prince of Orange. What effects would this have? Obviously there is a chance that she could die in childbirth but let's assume that she has 2-3 healthy children and succeeds George IV upon his death. How might the Caroline age differ from that of the OTL Victorian?

We know as Charlotte had Whig sympathies so we could certainly see her favorable to Catholic Emancipation and the Reform Acts; the Prince of Orange would certainly shuffle between the Netherlands and England, as the marriage treaty agreed she would not be forced to leave England, and at any rate she did not believe that a future Queen of England should live abroad. What effects might this have on the Netherlands, especially if Belgium revolts against Dutch domination? The British may be more keen to support a United Netherlands if there are familial ties, but I suppose it depends on the British government at the time.

Thoughts?
 
Charlotte of Wales seems to me an interesting woman. I can imagine she did not like the prince of Orange, all her other affairs were at least better looking and most likely less queer as the Prince of Orange.

I f I understood well, she became Queen of the United Kingdom and he would be King of the Netherlands, but both countries are not in personnel union.

I do not understand why the throne of the Netherlands could not pass to the second son of Ling William I of the Netherlands.
Prince Frederick William was much more capable of being a King than his elder brother.

If the marriage would go the Belgian revolt would never materialised. Most likely the riots in Brussles, Namour and Liege would never evolve into a full revolt and declaration of independence. First of all the Prince of Orange would be with his wife and mother inlaw in th United Kingdom. Leaving the supression of the riots to his brother and the capable and loyal Generals and Belgian citizens who just wanted order and more influence on the country.

Leaving the Netherlands united would mean a significant competitor with the UK, since South (Belgian) was rapidly industrializing and this time combined with the colonial possessions of the North (Netherlands) providing an increasing market.
Industries were emerging around Mons, Charleroi, Liege (coal mining and iron industry) and textile industry around Gent, Aalst. Colonies or trade post were Gold Coast (Ghana), Suriname, Indonesia.

If remained united, combined with the industrial and economical success during the 19th century, the attitude of Belgian and the Netherlands would be different. The politicians of a united Netherlands would be aware of there status as economical and industrial power and would not let it be bullied by other European powers, like France.

Charlotte of Wales would looks to me as a very energetic and independent woman, who when crowned Queen, would not let herself cornered by men.
If she marry the Prince of Orange perhaps the child birth would go well this time due to many changed factors?
According to some notes she was not ashamed to wear dresses which revealed an ankle, so maybe the 19th century would be a tiny bit less puritan?
The United Kingdom it self would evolve more or less as we know, turning in to an industrial, economic super power which pursued the idea of colonial empire as OTL.
 
Top