George's surviving uncle, George William of Celle, had married his mistress in order to legitimise his only daughter, Sophia Dorothea, but looked unlikely to have any further children.
Georgs kvarvarande farbror, Georg Vilhelm av Celle, hade gift sig med sin älskarinna för att göra sin enda dotter, Sofia Dorotea av Celle, legitim, men verkade inte få några fler barn.