The reader is left with the sad realization that a child, and more than any child, a royal child, will suffer terribly because of the delusional beliefs that attend a monarchical world. Those beliefs and expectations crushed George IV. They are still present in England.
So, it is enlightening in this excellent biography to read of the confused milieu of early Nineteenth Century political and aristocratic life.
There are excellent chapters on the tragic life of George's daughter,Charlotte and of His queen, Caroline (especially her attempts to attend his coronation, which he resisted to the full).
On the political level, Mr Hibbert is skillful in his treatment of the gradual waning of the monarch's influence and power over government. George's weakness politically was to discover his reliance on his first Ministers to move government along. He would often demand autocratically, but the patient ministerial influence of the trusted Castlereagh (until his suicide) and then Canning modified his stance in the passage of legislation. None was more persuasive than Wellington who eventually obtained his assent to the Catholic Emancipation Bill, something that had been anæthema to him all his life. So one sees the initial steps towards a modern constitutional monarchy in this short reign of ten years.
I haven't read Volume 1, I 'm sure it must be a good read based on the fineness of this second one.

1422 George IV: Regent and King 1811-1830, by Christopher Hibbert (read 28 Nov 1976) I read Hibbert's first volume of this biography on Sept 21, 1974, and just found this second volume existed. It is a superlative biography, well nigh perfect. The book covers the period when he was Regent and King--he succeeded his father Jan 29, 1820 and died June 26, 1830, This volume does not reek with its subject's obnoxiousness as did the prior one, but there is not much to be said for the man. He shows the strength of the British monarchy at the time--I presume such an occupant today would either cease to be King or the institution would be abolished. The era is fascinating and I enjoyed this book very very much. British history is chock full of interesting stuff I'd like to read. ( )