King George IV has topped a poll of Britain’s Worst Monarch.


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The survey, by English Heritage, saw the 19th century king – who ruled the UK from 29 January 1820 to 26 June 1830 after the death of his father George III – poll 40 per cent of votes thanks to his womanising, lavish spending at a time of economic crisis and unpleasant treatment of his wife Queen Caroline, who he even barred from his coronation.

Dr. Tracy Borman, an English Heritage historian, said it was no surprise he had topped the list.

She said: “It is no surprise that George, with his lavish spending habits and eye for the ladies, has been named worst monarch.

“George was the head of state when most people would have been struggling with a lack of work and large families to feed. Our own credit crunch has obviously made people feel sympathy with his subjects.

“If he were alive today, George would almost certainly be splashed all over the gossip pages with his latest mistress!”

Mary Queen of Scots, Queen of Scotland in the 16th century and Edward II, who ruled England from 1307-1327 before being forced to abdicate, were also named on the shortlist.

Mary was nominated for her suspected role in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, and marriage three months after his death to James Hepburn – also a suspect in the murder.

She later fled to England seeking protection but she was imprisoned for 19 years and eventually executed for treason amid claims she had plotted to murder the English monarch, Elizabeth I.

Edward’s wartime failures saw him take a place in the top three. During his reign, he lost the war with Scotland that his father started but was also imprisoned by his estranged wife and forced to abdicate on grounds of incompetence.

He also irritated society by lavishing gifts and wealth on his male ‘favourites’.