She was pregnant with a third child, Augustus (born 12 June 1847) when she obtained a marriage licence from the Faculty Office on 17 December 1846.

However, under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, Prince George was required to seek the permission of the British monarch (at that time his cousin, Queen Victoria) to marry, but failed to do so as permission to marry an actress with four illegitimate children by three fathers would never have been given.

[7] Legend created for the couple an idyllic relationship that seems far from the reality, she having many moments of suspicion and jealousy and he frequently lying about his affairs.

The Prince's comment in 1884 that 'when a man, through some unfortunate accident, makes a great mistake, he must abide by it' was taken to refer to their illegal marriage.

In The Royal George (Butler & Tanner, London, 1963), the historian Giles St Aubyn contested the negative conception of their relationship, writing: that it was popular with "most Englishmen"; that Prince George mourned Sarah, visiting their home to "take affectionate leave", and stating that her death "overwhelmed (him) with grief and sorrow"; and that, on the anniversary of her death, Prince George wrote of "the intense sorrow that oppresses and depresses my heart".