Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Queen Charlotte was born on 19 May 1744 at the Untere Schloss (Lower Castle) in Mirow, a town in the German duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz of the Holy Roman Empire.

She was the youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

Charlotte lost both her parents at an early age, her father died when she was only eight while her mother passed when she was 17. She had 9 siblings out of which 4 siblings died in their infancy.

Despite being intelligent, the education Charlotte received could at best be described as pedestrian if accounts maintained during her betrothal to George III are to be believed. Private tutors gave her basic instructions on language, natural history, and botany with special emphasis on religion and household management.

King George II was the monarch of Great Britain when Charlotte was born, and Frederick, Prince of Wales, being the king’s eldest son, was the heir apparent to the throne. However, Frederick died during his father’s reign, paving the way for George, the king’s eldest grandson, to be anointed as the successor.

Following King George II’s death in 1760, his grandson George, now all of 22 years, succeeded him to the throne as George III. Much before George ascension, attempts to get him married proved unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the search for a suitable bride picked up pace after he was crowned as king.

Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, mother of King George III, was a very dominating woman who had thwarted his son’s attempts to marry Lady Sarah Lennox, sister of the 3rd Duke of Richmond, Charles Lennox. His mother preferred a shy and submissive woman who’d kowtow to her, and accordingly Princess Charlotte was selected.

King George III strongly felt that Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz would make an ideal bride and queen consort because of her humble and low-profile upbringing. Soon after their marriage, he advised her to steer clear of state politics and intrigues, a proposal which she readily agreed.

Following a formal announcement to the Council in 1761 of his decision to marry Charlotte, he sent Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt to negotiate the wedding contract and conduct the princess to England. Charlotte’s brother, Adolphus Frederick IV, the incumbent duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Simon Harcourt became the joint signatories of the nuptial contract.

Charlotte’s transitioning from being the princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to becoming the queen of England and Ireland was smooth, largely because of her mild disposition and tranquil temperament. In order to communicate effectively with the royal family members and her subjects, she started taking lessons in English.

She gave birth to a son on 12 August 1762; he was christened George. George would go on to assume the title of ‘Prince of Wales’ and succeed his father, King George III to the throne.

The married life of Charlotte and King George was blissful and the couple had 15 children in total, out of which Octavius and Alfred died during their childhood.

Initially, the regal couple lived in St. James Palace, the official royal residence with their firstborn but later on, sometime in 1762, shifted to Buckingham House. Buckingham House which was bought by George III in the year he married was the preferred residence of Queen Charlotte.

The queen gave birth to her next 14 children in Buckingham House and spent most of her time in this royal residence. She surrendered ownership rights of Somerset House in lieu of gaining property rights for Buckingham House through a parliamentary statuette.