Prince George's namesakes associated with madness, bigamy and abdication

The newborn Prince George of Cambridge’s namesakes went either mad, were found guilty of bigamy or abdicated the throne.

Of the 12 monarchs to have ruled the Great Britain and the UK– since the Act of Settlement in 1701 – six have had the name George.

The Act prohibiting Roman Catholics from becoming monarchs, saw German-born George I sit on the throne in 1714.

His son George II was the last British monarch to fight alongside his troops and George III became known for losing the American colonies – later succumbing to madness, the Daily Express reported.

George IV secretly got married to Catholic Maria Fitzherbert, then wed Caroline of Brunswick.

Edward succeeded his father George V, which paved the way for a constitutional crisis after his abdication.

Edward’s younger brother, George VI, whose real name was Albert and who was also the Queen’s father later sat on throne.