George II's eldest son was Prince Frederick. The two had a difficult relationship, as Frederick supported the parliamentary opposition. But Frederick died, suddenly and unexpectedly, in 1751. His death has in the past been attributed to a burst lung abscess, caused by a blow from a cricket ball (Frederick was known to be a keen supporter and player of cricket) or a real tennis ball, but it is now thought to have resulted from a pulmonary embolism. He was buried at Westminster Abbey on 13 April 1751. He is the most recent Prince of Wales not to have acceded to the British throne.
Frederick's eldest son, Prince George, was twelve years old when his father died, and 22 when he acceded to the throne on the death of his grandfather, George II. He would reign for just over 59 years.
© Haydn Thompson 2021