 George considered two German princesses as possible brides , both of whom were his first cousins . Louise of Mecklenburg @-@ Strelitz was the daughter of George 's mother 's brother , while Caroline of Brunswick was his father 's sister 's daughter . George 's mother , Queen Charlotte , had heard disquieting rumours about Princess Caroline 's behavior , and so favoured Princess Louise , whom she considered prettier , and who was her niece by blood , rather than by marriage . Princess Caroline had , it was said , behaved improperly with an Irish officer in her father 's army , and earlier negotiations for her hand had broken off for unknown reasons . George , under the influence of Lady Jersey ( who considered Caroline a less formidable rival than Louise ) , selected the Brunswick princess although he had never met her , and despatched the diplomat , James Harris , 1st Earl of Malmesbury , to escort her from Brunswick to Britain . 
