An 18th-century British queen used the legend of King Arthur to promote her dynasty’s claim to the throne.

Queen Caroline, wife of George II, did use the legend of King Arthur for political and dynastic purposes. The clearest example was Merlin’s Cave at Richmond, an attraction associated with the royal estate that presented Arthurian mythology in a way intended to connect the Hanoverian monarchy with Britain’s legendary past. The project functioned as royal public relations rather than merely private entertainment.theconversation.comtheconversation.comHow Queen Caroline turned King Arthur into an 18th-century royal PR strategy The political message drew on an established tradition. English and British rulers had long invoked Arthurian ancestry and imagery to bolster claims of legitimacy, national identity, and continuity. Earlier Tudor claims, particularly those associated with Henry VII, provide important historical background for understanding why Arthur could serve as a useful dynastic symbol in the 18th century.academic.oup.comacademic.oup.comKing Arthur of England, count of Habsburg: the use of Arthurian imagery in...+1 more

The evidence also records resistance to Caroline’s presentation. Critics and political opponents mocked Merlin’s Cave, which indicates that they understood the attraction as carrying political meaning. The available sources support the claim that Caroline used Arthurian legend to promote her dynasty’s image and legitimacy, although “claim to the throne” is a broad summary of a more specific strategy of associating the Hanoverians with Britain’s ancient and supposedly native royal heritage.theconversation.comtheconversation.comHow Queen Caroline turned King Arthur into an 18th-century royal PR strategy