Before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle assumed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, these noble titles were held by Augustus Frederick and Lady Augusta Murray.
Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of King George III, was born on January 27, 1773. In 1801, he was created Duke of Sussex by his brother, King George IV. The Duke of Sussex pursued a military career and held an avid interest in the arts and sciences.
He married Lady Augusta Murray, the daughter of John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, in a controversial ceremony in Rome in 1793. However, their marriage was considered void by the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, as they had not obtained the King's consent.
Despite this, the couple continued their life together, having two children before eventually separating in 1801. The Duke of Sussex married for a second time in 1831 to Lady Cecilia Underwood, with whom he had no children.
Lady Augusta Murray, born on January 27, 1768, was the daughter of John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore. She was known for her brief and controversial marriage to Augustus Frederick, which took place in 1793 in Rome.
Despite the marriage being declared void, Lady Augusta Murray was known by the courtesy title of Duchess of Sussex. Following her separation from the Duke, she lived in near-obscurity and faced financial difficulties.
The title of Duke and Duchess of Sussex has a rich historical background that predates Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's tenure. Augustus Frederick and Lady Augusta Murray were the earlier holders of these titles, with their own unique and intriguing stories adding to the legacy of the British monarchy.
