William IV has a legitimate heir.

Exactly what it says on the tin.

This would prevent the disconnect of Great Britain and Hanover, am I correct? What sort of effects (I'm sure their rather large) does this have on politics in Germany, specifically unification politics? What are the effects in Britain? Will the British be generally more involved in Continental politics?

How will the Hanoverians feel about effectively being ruled by the British? How will the British feel still having a Hanoverian on their throne?
 
The Hanoverians didn't have a problem with the British. They wanted their own British-style parliament, which most of the royal family were opposed to, but were quite happy with the personal union.

Are we talking about William picking his fights with his father more carefully, so that instead of demanding to be made a Duke like his two elder brothers, he demands the right to marry Mrs. Jordan?

And while this is quibbling, I'm sure you meant legitimate son, yes? Since Victoria was a legitimate heir...

Yes, it's likely to make for a rather different Germany. But take it slow, you're asking about how a PoD in the 18-aughts affects things happening in the 1860s ;) get us there slowly.
 
The Hanoverians didn't have a problem with the British. They wanted their own British-style parliament, which most of the royal family were opposed to, but were quite happy with the personal union.

Are we talking about William picking his fights with his father more carefully, so that instead of demanding to be made a Duke like his two elder brothers, he demands the right to marry Mrs. Jordan?

And while this is quibbling, I'm sure you meant legitimate son, yes? Since Victoria was a legitimate heir...

Yes, it's likely to make for a rather different Germany. But take it slow, you're asking about how a PoD in the 18-aughts affects things happening in the 1860s ;) get us there slowly.

I meant a legitimate heir for the British and Hanoverian thrones. As in his own child who could take both titles with them after William IV dies.

And I suppose just whatever works to get William IV a legitimate child. If that means marrying Mrs. Jordan, whatever.
 
IOTL early in 1848 Hanoverians radicals had effectively taken control of the capitol and demanded various reforms; Ernest Augustus essentially told the demonstrating protesters that if they didn't quiet down he'd simply pack up and leave for Britain, taking the Crown Prince with him. The fear of Prussian expansionism, as Prussian was busy throughout all of the 1848-49 period quashing various reformist and revolutionary movements throughout the German states, was enough at the time to effectively disperse the crowds.

ITTL though the difference might be enough to push the Hanoverians to take control, which would likely put Hanover in the same category as Baden, Saxony, the Palatinate, and the Rhineland (i.e. radical republics). Which means Britain is likely to get involved in the 1848 revolutions; which is going to have butterfly effects both in the German States and in Britain itself (re: Chartism).
 
I meant a legitimate heir for the British and Hanoverian thrones. As in his own child who could take both titles with them after William IV dies.

And I suppose just whatever works to get William IV a legitimate child. If that means marrying Mrs. Jordan, whatever.

It was not legally possible for William to have a legitimate child by Mrs Jordan. They could never be legally married under British law.
 
Well then he gets married to somebody who he can have a legitimate child with.

He did, eventually, but his two children by Queen Adelaide died young, and in any case were both girls, who could not inherit Hanover.

It is possible, though, that had one of them lived, she might have married the son of Ernest of Cumberland, and preserved the link with Hanover that way..
 
Assuming that the personal union between Hanover and Britain stayed after 1837 then the question is which side would Britain support in the Austro-Prussian war.

If they support Austrian (as George V) did then Hanover will be overrun and the Brits will have to declare war on Prussia. Since Prussia and Britain would not have a marrage link (Princess Victoria was Victoria's daughter) this is possible.

In this case the French may join in to, and Prussia would find itself with 3 Great Powers set against them.

If they support Prussia then they will alienate the Austrians and the French, as well I suspect the Hanoverians themselves!

They may remain neutral, in which case the German Empire would not include Hanover.
 
The Austro-Prussian war is of minor interest here, as in the meantime the revolution of 1848 and the German-Danish war would happen and bring Britain in, which should have significant butterfly effects.

I assume the British would be rather sympathetic to Hannoverian demands of more freedom and democracy. In 1848, I can imagine that the British would be rather happy to get rid of Hannover if it ends in a democratic Germany. On the other side, the British would try to preserve the balance of powers - as their meddling in the first German-Danish war showed. As a consequence, I assume much heavier British involvement into the 1848 revolution. And they shouldn't be that happy with expanding Prussia.
 
It was not legally possible for William to have a legitimate child by Mrs Jordan. They could never be legally married under British law.

The only reason I can think of for this would be if she was a Catholic (which, given that she was born in Ireland, is certainly possible), but even then marriage would be possible if she converts and the king gives permission. The latter, granted, is not terribly likely.
 
The only reason I can think of for this would be if she was a Catholic (which, given that she was born in Ireland, is certainly possible), but even then marriage would be possible if she converts and the king gives permission. The latter, granted, is not terribly likely.

Before he himself was the monarch, he was unable to marry without the permission of the monarch. At the time, the monarch allowing marriage to a commoner (let alone an actress with four illegitimate children) was unthinkable. By the time he was monarch William IV and Dorothea Bland had separated. Even if they had then married I don't think that would have been sufficient to legitimate their existing children retrospectively, and she was too old to have more legitimate children.
 
He did, eventually, but his two children by Queen Adelaide died young, and in any case were both girls, who could not inherit Hanover.

It is possible, though, that had one of them lived, she might have married the son of Ernest of Cumberland, and preserved the link with Hanover that way..

Okay, so, Adelaide has one of those two children be sons, and he lives to full age, a healthy young man.

It doesn't have to be anything complicated, folks. It really doesn't have to be.
 
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