Queen Charlotte: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:17, 16 June 2019

19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818. Wife of George III. Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland/United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1761–1818.

Queen Charlotte was born 19 May 1744 in Mirow, as Sophia Charlotta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her father was Carl Ludwig Friedrich – a duke who was not reigning at that time. Thus, she grew up in rather modest circumstances, far away from court. Nevertheless, she was well educated, receiving not only lessons in history but also in botany and mineralogy (Marx 2). She was also very skilled in foreign languages, speaking French and Italian. Above that, following etiquette, she was also taught in dance and music. Her teachers often were famous musicians (e.g.Johann Georg Linike), which supported Charlotte’s love for music and art from an early age (Marx 3 f.). Later she was taught by Johann Christian Bach (son of Johann Sebastian Bach) (The Royal Household).

Charlotte married King George III in September 1761 in London and thus was Queen of Great Britain and Queen of Ireland from this day on (Köhler 30). As the two kingdoms united in 1801, she became Queen of the United Kingdom. Moreover, Charlotte was also the Electress of Hanover until George III became King of Hanover which made her Queen consort of Hanover. She and her husband were parents to fifteen children. It is said that King George chose Charlotte as his wife – she was 16 at this time, he was twenty-three – for both personal and political reasons (Marx 4 f.). From a political point of view, Charlotte was a good choice because of her connection to the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Hanover. From a personal point of view, King George considered Charlotte to be a god wife because of her character traits: she was open to convert to the Anglican church, she was not politically active, and she was well educated – especially in music and the arts which was a shared interest with King George (Marx 4 f.).

Due to her good education, Charlotte quickly learned English after her wedding and thus was able to participate in court life. She enjoyed organizing concerts and dinner parties (Marx 8) but she was also engaged in philanthropic activities: many orphanages were founded on her behalf, she also became patron of a hospital and a patron of art and music The Royal Household). As mentioned above, Charlotte was also very interested in botany (Köhler 30). As an amateur botanist she helped to expand Kew Gardens, a exotic flower (Bird of Paradise) was even named to honor her (The Royal Household). Apart from that, she often played several music instruments in her free time.

During the King’s mental illness, which was constantly getting worse, the Queen tried to help him get better by making use of their love for music: she organized music events or private concerts (Marx 11 f.). She finally died in 1818. Her grave can be found at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor (The Royal Household).

Sources

Köhler, Marcus. "The German Legacy: Richmond in Braunschweig." Garden History 29.1 (2001): 29-35.

Marx, Hans Joachim. "„A love of music to distraction...“: Musik im Leben der englischen Königin Charlotte (1744-1818)." Archiv für Musikwissenschaft 71.1 (2014): 1-20.

The Royal Household. “Queen Charlotte (19 May 1744 -17 November 1818)”. Royal.uk, The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, https://www.royal.uk/queen-charlotte. Accessed 1 June 2019.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
--1818. Wife of [[George III]].
-th May, 1744 – 17th November, 1818. Queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland/ United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1761 – 1818
+May 1744 – 17 November 1818. Wife of [[George III]]. Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland/United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1761–1818.
-Queen Charlotte was born on 19th May, 1744 as Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
+Queen Charlotte was born 19 May 1744 in Mirow, as Sophia Charlotta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
-She was the eight and youngest child of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Due to her family’s connection to the African branch of the Portuguese Royal House, she is also sometimes called the Black Queen. Although the African bloodline in the British royal family is not widely known, experts assume nowadays that portrait painters where told to soften the Queens African facial features when drawing the royal Highness. Many research articles deal with the thesis that Queen Charlotte in fact was the first biracial Queen of the United Kingdom.
+Her father was Carl Ludwig Friedrich – a duke who was not reigning at that time. Thus, she grew up in rather modest circumstances, far away from court. Nevertheless, she was well educated, receiving not only lessons in history but also in botany and mineralogy (Marx 2). She was also very skilled in foreign languages, speaking French and Italian. Above that, following etiquette, she was also taught in dance and music. Her teachers often were famous musicians (e.g.Johann Georg Linike), which supported Charlotte’s love for music and art from an early age (Marx 3 f.). Later she was taught by Johann Christian Bach (son of Johann Sebastian Bach) (The Royal Household).
+Charlotte married King [[George III]] in September 1761 in London and thus was Queen of Great Britain and Queen of Ireland from this day on (Köhler 30). As the two kingdoms united in 1801, she became Queen of the United Kingdom. Moreover, Charlotte was also the Electress of Hanover until George III became King of Hanover which made her Queen consort of Hanover. She and her husband were parents to fifteen children. It is said that King George chose Charlotte as his wife – she was 16 at this time, he was twenty-three – for both personal and political reasons (Marx 4 f.). From a political point of view, Charlotte was a good choice because of her connection to the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Hanover. From a personal point of view, King George considered Charlotte to be a god wife because of her character traits: she was open to convert to the Anglican church, she was not politically active, and she was well educated – especially in music and the arts which was a shared interest with King George (Marx 4 f.).
-In her childhood she received a rather ordinary education, only later in life she learned about princely duties and about life in court. This was one of the reasons George III chose her as his wife after his coronation as her up bringing in a small and politically not too involved north German duchy led him to the conclusion that Charlotte herself wouldn’t be too interested in power politics or party intrigues. Although she was not getting engaged in political affairs, she had influence on them through her husband, the King. Apparently, she never took influence directly but preferred to give indirect and discrete recommendations for offices. She also liked to inform herself about politics, especially German affairs and issues were of interest to her.
+Due to her good education, Charlotte quickly learned English after her wedding and thus was able to participate in court life. She enjoyed organizing concerts and dinner parties (Marx 8) but she was also engaged in philanthropic activities: many orphanages were founded on her behalf, she also became patron of a hospital and a patron of art and music The Royal Household). As mentioned above, Charlotte was also very interested in botany (Köhler 30). As an amateur botanist she helped to expand Kew Gardens, a exotic flower (Bird of Paradise) was even named to honor her (The Royal Household). Apart from that, she often played several music instruments in her free time.
+During the King’s mental illness, which was constantly getting worse, the Queen tried to help him get better by making use of their love for music: she organized music events or private concerts (Marx 11 f.).
+She finally died in 1818. Her grave can be found at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor (The Royal Household).
+'''Sources'''
-Charlotte married King George III in September 1761 in London at the age of 17 years and thus became Queen of Great Britain and Queen of Ireland. As the two kingdoms united in 1801, she became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Moreover, Charlotte was also the Electress of Hanover until George III became King of Hanover which made her Queen consort of Hanover. She and her husband were parents to fifteen children, two of them died at a young age. Two of their children (George IV and Willian IV) became British monarchs, others were King of Hanover (Ernest Augustus) and Queen of Württemberg (Charlotte).
+Köhler, Marcus. "The German Legacy: Richmond in Braunschweig." ''Garden History'' 29.1 (2001): 29-35.
-When marrying George III Charlotte did not speak English but she learned it quickly although preserving a harsh German accent. During her first years in England, she also had troubles adjusting as Princess Augusta, the queen mother and thus her mother-in-law, interfered with her life by insisting on rigid court etiquette. Thus, Charlotte had difficulties with the adaption to the life of the British court. Moreover, Charlotte and her husband preferred a more domestic and informal lifestyle as they spent most of their time in Buckingham House or the Queen’s Lodge at Windsor and not in the official palace. This was not liked by everyone.
+Marx, Hans Joachim. "„A love of music to distraction...“: Musik im Leben der englischen Königin Charlotte (1744-1818)." ''Archiv für   Musikwissenschaft'' 71.1 (2014): 1-20.
-Charlotte was known for being very interested in arts – especially music - and botany. As an amateur botanist she not only helped to expand Kew Gardens but also tried to cure her husband’s physical and mental illness. Furthermore, it is said that she brought the Christmas Tree to England: She had the first one in her house in 1800. Above that she also enjoyed decorating the family’s informal residences. Notes and letters written by Queen Charlotte herself also reveal her friendly and warm nature.
-During the King’s mental illness, which was constantly getting worse, the Queen’s personality changed as well: She got depressed and removed herself from the social life, not enjoying her hobbies and the presence of her family anymore.
+The Royal Household. “Queen Charlotte (19 May 1744 -17 November 1818)”. ''Royal.uk'', The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, https://www.royal.uk/queen-charlotte. Accessed 1 June 2019.
-She finally died in 1818 in the presence of her eldest son. Charlotte was buried at St. George’s Chapel.