# King William IV — Queen Victoria character guide

> King William IV in Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** IV King William, King William

**First appearance:** 0002-i-antecedents

## Who they are

Victoria's uncle and predecessor, who died shortly after her 18th birthday.

## In the story

### [I: Antecedents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i-antecedents)

Duke of Clarence at this time; third son of George III, he marries in 1818 and later succeeds as king, but his legitimate children die young, leaving Victoria as heir.

### [II: Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii-childhood)

The deceased king whose death prompted Victoria's accession and the convening of her first Privy Council.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as one of the Duke's brothers; the Duke speculates on who might die in 1820.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii)

Succeeded George IV as king; his queen was unlikely to have more children, leading to Victoria being recognized as heir-presumptive.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv)

Publicly rebukes the Duchess of Kent at his birthday banquet, expressing his anger over her appropriation of apartments and her treatment of the Princess.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/v)

Dies on June 20, 1837, after a brief illness; his death triggers Victoria's accession.

### [X: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/x-the-end)

Remembered for his turkey-cock ejaculations.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/king_william_iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters