Gravesend has witnessed some extraordinary arrivals - but few can have begun a marriage quite as unhappily as Princess Caroline of Brunswick's landing in 1795.

Caroline arrived at Gravesend on 4th April and travelled onwards to London to marry Prince George, eldest son of King George III, just four days later.

There was one rather large problem.

George was already devoted to Maria Fitzherbert. He had even gone through a form of marriage with her in 1785, although it was legally void because he had married without the King's consent.

By 1795, George's debts had reportedly reached around £600,000. His father would not help unless he made a suitable royal marriage - and Caroline was chosen.

The future bride and groom had never met.

The marriage went ahead, but it became notoriously unhappy. The couple eventually became King George IV and Queen Caroline, yet their relationship was marked by estrangement, scandal and public bitterness.

Caroline's hopeful arrival at Gravesend was therefore the beginning of one of Britain's most disastrous royal marriages.

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