Her royal subjects knew nothing about her racial background. But in the late 18th century Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III (1738-1820), may have been the country’s first multiracial royal. The similarities don't end with the Queen, as Charlotte also bears a resemblance to other members of the royal family, such as her mother Kate Middleton and late grandmother Princess Diana. Charlotte’s husband suffered from intermittent bouts of mental illness throughout his adult life. Charlotte was the eighth child of the Prince of Mirow, Germany, Charles Louis Frederick, and his wife, Elisabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Charlotte was the eighth child of the Prince of Mirow, Germany, Charles Louis Frederick, and his wife, Elisabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She married into the royal family in 1761 becoming the wife of King George III. Queen Victoria also mentioned her mother’s “sore hand”; and it was the hand of her mother, which the Queen held at her death. Though born in Germany and a princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Charlotte was directly descended from an African branch of the Portuguese Royal House. She is the grandmother of Queen Victoria and the great-great-great-great-grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II. QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S family history dates back to 1066 AD, through the entire British monarchy which includes a litany of kings and queens, some more famous than others. This weekend, Kensington Palace released Princess Charlotte's fifth birthday portraits, which were taken by her mother, Kate Middleton. Barbara Stepko is a New Jersey-based freelance editor and writer who has contributed to AARP magazine and the Wall Street Journal. Charlotte is also known for the possibility that she possessed multiracial heritage, which would make her England's first multiracial royal. According to Olwen Hedley, Queen Charlotte's biographer, "As a young mother, [Queen Charlotte] extended her liberality to the eight-year-old Wolfgang … Portrait of King George III and Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom. Like other young ladies of her station, Charlotte was educated at home by private tutors. Queen Charlotte (born Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenberg-Strelitz) was the Queen of England from 1761–1818. Even Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, was originally chartered as Queens College after Charlotte, though it was renamed in 1825 after Henry Rutgers, a hero in the Revolutionary War. The Queen Mother was known to have a great warmth to her character (Image: Getty) Charlotte and her siblings are currently spending time in Anmer Hall in Norfolk, with their parents. They were passionate admirers of the music of George Frideric Handel. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Mozart c. 1780, detail from portrait by Johann Nepomuk della Croce. In 1804, Charlotte moved into separate quarters, and seems to have adopted a policy of avoiding her husband entirely. Charlotte would provide funding to prevent the hospital from closing. Her heavy German accent and tumultuous relationship with George’s mother, Princess Augusta, made it difficult for her to adapt to English court life. Charlotte was taught the basics of language, music, and art, but much of her education was focused on domestic life and household management, in preparation for future as a wife and mother. ThoughtCo, Jan. 17, 2021, thoughtco.com/queen-charlotte-biography-4175819. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/queen-charlotte-biography-4175819. Explorers, such as Captain James Cook, would bring the Queen — something of an amateur botanist — new species of plants, which she displayed and expanded in her gardens. Although Charlotte attempted to expand her social circle, Augusta challenged her every step of the way, even going as far as to replace Charlotte’s German ladies-in-waiting with English ladies of Augusta’s choosing. She and George were married that evening, just a few hours after meeting. Conclusive evidence of Charlotte's ancestry has likely been lost to history. Two decades later, in 1788, George became ill again, and this time it was much worse. She was the second longest-serving consort in British history, after the present Duke of Edinburgh. Follow the line of succession and get to know the royals you know and love such as Prince Charles, Prince William, and Princess Eugenie, as as well as Queen Elizabeths parents King George VI and The Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon with the interactive family … Rosheuvel, known for her work as a stage actress in Britain and for guest roles on TV shows like Luther and Silent Witness, lords over high society as Queen Charlotte. (“Lying-in” was a slang term for childbirth, back in the day, while “General” meant accepting all cases.). She was a close friend of Queen Marie Antoinette. This scenario remained the same until Charlotte's death in 1818. Over the years, Charlotte and George had fifteen children together, thirteen of whom survived to adulthood. Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom. "Biography of Queen Charlotte." Other historians take issue with Valdes' theory, arguing that with a Black ancestor nine generations back, it's nearly impossible to consider Charlotte multi-racial. As a token of their appreciation, it would be re-named the Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, and is now one of the most respected maternity hospitals in London. She was the grandmother of Queen Victoria, and the great-great-great-great grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II. By now, Charlotte was well aware of the Regency Bill, but still had to battle against the Prince of Wales, who had designs of his own on the Regency. Charlotte had the first evergreen in her house in 1800, decorating it with sweetmeats, almonds, fruits and toys. Though the two never actually me, they corresponded frequently. She was the first queen to reside in Buckingham Palace (sort of). The Queen Mother left £14 million to her great-grandchildren in her will The Queen Mother’s estate was valued between £50 to £70 million and left to her daughter The Queen This royal news comes after Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis’ new hobby is revealed – and the Queen would definitely approve The Relationship Between Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria, Biography of Queen Victoria, Queen of England and Empress of India, Biography of Elizabeth of York, Queen of England, Industry and Agriculture History in Europe. In fact, there are places all over the world named in her honor — from Queen Charlotte Sound in New Zealand, to Queen Charlotte Bay in West Falkland, to Charlottesville, Virginia. The queen founded orphanages and, in 1809, became the patron of London’s General Lying-in Hospital, one of the first maternity hospitals in Great Britain. Queen Charlotte in the studio of Allan Ramsay, oil on canvas, (1762). It was discovered many years after her death by keen-eyed art historians. Todays working royals are all descendents of King George V and Queen Mary, from the reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II to her youngest great grandchild Prince Louis. Her brother Adolf Frederick IV, who assumed their late father’s position as Du… When Charlotte was seventeen years old, she was sent from Germany to marry George III, five years her senior. Charlotte's widower, Prince Leopold, went on to become the first King of Belgium - a role he would not have been offered if she was Queen of England. Portrait of the British queen consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Like other young ladies of her station, Charlotte was educated at home by private tutors. MOTHER OF PEARLS GAMING COUNTERS c1780 A full set of Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters made forQueen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Queen Consort and wife of King George III (b19 May 1744 – d17 November 1818)was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III.These are three of her… Alas, it never came to be. Charlotte and the prince reconciled in 1791. Charlotte's physician, Baron Stockmar, described her as having “a true mulatto face.”. She came into the world on May 19, 1744, as Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a northern German territory that at the time was part of the Holy Roman Empire. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Impressive, to be sure, but being pregnant for a good part of her marriage weighed on the Queen. King George III: British Ruler During the American Revolution, Biography of Mary of Teck, Royal British Matriarch, British Royal Weddings from Victoria to Meghan Markle, 1952: Princess Elizabeth Becomes Queen at 25. ThoughtCo. Later, Mozart would dedicate his Opus 3 piece to the Queen. From her facial features to her adorably stylish outfits — here are 16 times Princess Charlotte looked just like her royal relatives. Charlotte passed on her mixed-race heritage to her granddaughter, Queen Victoria, and to Britain’s present-day monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Charlotte was born a German princess far away from the British crown. Although the Royal family was always in the public view, Queen Charlotte herself led a very private and protected life. By 1811, George was declared insane and placed under Charlotte's guardianship, as per the Regency Bill of 1789. https://www.thoughtco.com/queen-charlotte-biography-4175819 (accessed April 3, 2021). She hung out with Mozart. Charlotte was also an active gardener, with a scientific interest in botany that led her to help expand Kew Gardens. She was a natural Whig - with a passion for social reform and a passionate love of her people - and was fervently Christian, too. When George recovered the following year, Charlotte deliberately sent a message by refusing to allow the Prince of Wales to attend a ball held in honor of the King's return to health. Charlotte and her siblings were also educated in religious matters by a priest who lived with the family. But the queen in question is Charlotte, who married King George III (yes, that King George) six hours after arriving in London and meeting him for the first time on Sept. 8, 1761. Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Police arrest a 72-year-old “suburban grandfather” suspected of being the Golden State Killer, “I’m not dead yet”: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes’ secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The “Walk of Shame” in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gödel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, “Little Ease”: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. After George descended into permanent madness in 1811, the Prince was declared Regent. Historians traced Queen Charlotte’s lineage directly from Castro, making her mixed-race; something quite profound for its day. Queen Charlotte, the grandmother of Queen Victoria, also had a keen interest in America's politic and the ongoing War of Independence. The riddle of Queen Charlotte’s African ancestry was solved as a result of an earlier investigation into the black magi featured in 15th century Flemish paintings. Biography of Queen Charlotte. Behauptung: Queen Charlotte of Britain was a mixed-race woman of African ancestry. Read another story from us: The life of Mary Queen of Scots – Married 3 times, imprisoned and her untimely end. Is the Queen related to Elizabeth I? Charlotte was a decade older than the tragic Queen of France, yet they struck up a friendship over a shared love of music and the arts. George had ascended to the throne following the death of his father, George II, and was as yet unmarried. In 1764, an eight-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrived in Great Britain with his family, as part of their grand tour of Europe. Wigington, Patti. In addition, she educated herself about diplomatic matters, and exercised a quiet and discreet influence over her husband’s political affairs, both foreign and domestic. Her husband, King George III, suffered from mental illness, and Charlotte ultimately served as his guardian until her death. Marie Antoinette confided in Charlotte during the start of the French Revolution, who readied apartments for the French Royal Family. Meghan Markle in March 2018. During the first episode in 1765, George’s mother Augusta and Prime Minister Lord Bute managed to keep Charlotte completely unaware of what was happening. In 1765, King George became mentally ill. (It’s now believed that he was suffering from porphyria, an inherited disorder stemming from the buildup of certain chemicals in the brain, but at the time the cause of his illness was unknown.). Philippa of Hainault was the first Black Queen of England. Sophia Charlotte, born on May 19, 1744, was the eighth child of Charles Louis Frederick, the Prince of Mirow, Germany, and his wife, Elisabeth Albertina. “I don’t think a prisoner could wish more ardently for his liberty than I wish to be rid of my burden and see the end of my campaign. The Duchess of Kent died at half-past nine on 16 March 1861. Charlotte, who was born May 19, 1744, was the youngest daughter of Duke Carl Ludwig Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Sir Allan Ramsay is thought to have produced the most accurate representations. How Was Queen Victoria Related to Prince Albert? The Queen is the latest addition to a more than 100-year history of monarchs in the UK which started with William of Normandy. Sir Walter Scott said that her relatives from the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz were "ill-colored, orang-outang looking figures, with black eyes and hook-noses." Nevertheless, it remains important to reflect upon this element of her story, as well as to consider how the concepts of race and royalty play out in society today. In 1752, when she was eight years old, Sophie Charlotte's father died. (2021, January 17). Margarita de Castro y Souza was a Moor noblewoman who married into the Portuguese royal family. Queen Charlotte, wife of the English King George III (1738-1820), was directly descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a black branch of the Portuguese Royal House. From subjectively humble roots, Charlotte reporte… German composer Johann Christian Bach, son of Johann Sebastian Bach, considered her a friend, and she helped him nab the position of state musician, previously held by George Frideric Handel. Portrait painters of the royal family played down Charlotte’s African features, much to the Queen’s dismay. Charlotte was also the mother of two future British monarchs, George IV and William IV. Caroline of Brunswick (Caroline Amelia Elizabeth; German: Caroline Amalie Elisabeth von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel; 17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821) was Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover as the wife of King George IV from 29 January 1820 until her death … In her will, she asked The Queen to make certain bequests to members of her staff, and these bequests will be subject to Inheritance Tax in the normal way. Gradually, over the next few years, George descended into permanent madness. Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born in 1744, the eighth child of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and his wife, Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen, at the family castle in Mirow, Germany. Queen Charlotte and the Prince of Wales would reconcile in 1791, and when she died in 1818, sitting in an armchair at the family’s country retreat, her eldest son was there beside her, holding her hand. She was born after the early deaths of her two elder brothers, Octavius (1779–1783) and Alfred (1780–1782). She was pregnant regularly, yet still managed to find time to organize the decoration of a lodge in Windsor Park, which was where she and her family spent most of their time. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. The riddle of Queen Charlotte's African ancestry was solved as a result of an earlier investigation into the black magi featured in 15th century Flemish paintings. She put the “Charlotte” in Charlotte, North Carolina. But as it turns out, Meghan, whose mother is black and father is white, may not be the very first biracial royal. Wigington, Patti. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has bequeathed her entire estate (which mainly comprises the contents of her houses) to The Queen. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Queen Charlotte with her Two Eldest Sons, Johan Zoffany, 1765. She sank into depression and developed quite a temper — both of which led to frequent disagreements with her children. Although Sophia was not George’s choice, their bond was duty. If you google Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, you'll quickly come across a historian called Mario de Valdes y Cocom. Charlotte, meanwhile, became her husband’s legal guardian, which placed her under a great deal of stress. I would be happy if I knew this was the last time,” she would write in 1780 about her pregnancy with her 14th child, Prince Alfred, according to Janice Hadlow’s The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte, and the Hanoverians. In 1761, when she turned 17, Princess Sophia was betrothed — rather unexpectedly — to the King of England, George III. George III gave Richmond Lodge and estate to Queen Charlotte in 1761 as part of their marriage settlement, and, during the 1770s, she developed a retreat, known today as Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, within the grounds of what is now Kew Gardens, as a picnic place for her family. In particular, she became involved in English-German relations, and may have had some influence in British intervention in Bavaria. During her reign as Queen, Charlotte was the subject of racially-charged insults about her appearance. Charlotte was thought to be directly descended from a black branch of the Portuguese royal family: Alfonso III and his concubine, a black Moor. Queen Charlotte was buried at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle — appropriately enough, the very place where Prince Harry and his bride Meghan Markle were married. St. James Palace was the official residence of the royal couple, but the King purchased a nearby property, Buckingham House (expanded to Buckingham Palace in the 19th century) as a private retreat for his wife. Sophia Charlotte, born on May 19, 1744, was the eighth child of Charles Louis Frederick, the Prince of Mirow, Germany, and his wife, Elisabeth Albertina. So what kind of Queen would Charlotte have been? When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in May of this year, much was made of her biracial heritage. Charlotte was a patroness of the arts and a keen amateur botanist. Queen Charlotte, wife of the English King George III (1738-1820), was directly descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a black branch of the Portuguese Royal House. Princess Amelia was born on 7 August 1783, at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, the youngest of George III and Queen Charlotte's 15 children as well as the only one born at Windsor Castle. The claims about Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz trace to a historian named Mario de Valdes y Cocom, who argued that Charlotte though German, was directly descended from a black branch of the Portuguese royal family, related to Margarita de Castro e Souza, a 15th-century Portuguese noblewoman nine generations removed, whose ancestry she traces from the 13th-century ruler Alfonso III and his lover Madragana, whom Valdes tak… She had a dysfunctional family. The couple’s fourth eldest son was Edward, Duke of Kent, who later fathered Queen Victoria. There was a conflict between the Queen and their son, the Prince of Wales, over who should assume the Regency should the King be declared unfit to rule. North Africans who immigrated to Spain in the early 13th century were called Moors. Charlotte's contemporaries described her as having an "unmistakable African appearance." One such find, the South African flower, the Bird of Paradise, was named Strelitzia reginae in her honor. Mary Queen of Scots, mother of James I of England, was the cousin of Elizabeth I who executed her for treason, and both were descended from … She was a soft touch. The Queen loved the residence so much, she started spending most of her time there, and it became known as “The Queen’s House.”. King George III and Queen Charlotte were music connoisseurs with German tastes, who gave special honour to German artists and composers. Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born in 1744, the eighth child of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and his wife, Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen, at the family castle in Mirow, Germany. "Biography of Queen Charlotte." Charlotte arrived in England on September 7, 1761, and the next day, met her prospective groom for the first time. Here, some other facts about this most unusual woman’s life: She had fifteen children, thirteen of whom survived to adulthood. In addition, they made sure she was kept in the dark about the Regency Bill, which stated that in the event of George’s full incapacity, Charlotte herself would become Regent. ill-colored, orang-outang looking figures, with black eyes and hook-noses. Since he would soon need an heir of his own, and Charlotte was from a minor duchy in the northern part of Germany that had no political machinations, she must have seemed like a perfect match. Their court hosted performances by Bach and Mozart, and they enjoyed the compositions of Handel and many others. One in particular, showing the Queen in her sumptuous coronation robe, was sent out into the colonies, a subtle nod to the anti-slavery movement, which was in its beginning stages. Though born in Germany and a princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Charlotte was directly descended from an African branch of … Wigington, Patti. She introduced the Christmas tree to Britain. Although she spoke no English at first, Charlotte learned the language of her new country quickly. Charlotte and George were avid patrons of the arts, taking a particular interest in German music and composers. Photo by Northern Ireland Office CC By 2.0. Historian Mario de Valdes y Cocom contends that although Charlotte was German, her family was distantly descended from a 13th-century Black ancestor. It is often said that she was her father's favourite; he affectionately called her "Emily".
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