The date is November 1717. George has quarrelled with his son and banished him and his wife from his residence but has kept their three daughters and won't release them. A hostage negotiator has been called.

George really did take his granddaughters, for want of a better word, hostage. The quotes from his Mother are true.  The public really did cry 'No George' when he became King. The Riot Act really did come into play that year. His wife Sophia really did call him a pig snout and throw his picture against the wall. She really was put under house arrest and banned from seeing her children.

His mistress Melusine is real, including her nickname: The Maypole. Sophia really was his half-sister and unlikely to be his mistress. But who knows?! But she really was called The Elephant. The phrase in German about buttering fish, really is a saying about getting to the point. George's stories of what his son did to him are true. The story about his piles when visiting the Marshalsea is true.

The story of how the Prince hissed at the Duke which started the entire argument is true. He really did try and get his son arrested and took him to Court to get control of the grandchildren. He also did try and get him kidnapped and taken to America. The story of how George cried and Caroline fainted when they secretly met their children in captivity is true.

George did insist that his grandson stay in Germany away from his parents. The quote from the eldest daughter about him not loving them enough is verbatim. Peter the Wild Boy was real. Handel's water music was indeed written for his parties on the water (see picture 2 below).

If you want to find out more about George, check out the sources and places below:

Kings of Georgian Britain - Catherine Curzon

Penguin Monarchs Series: George I - Tim Blanning

The English Monarchs Series: George I - Ragnhild Hatton