Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold Saxe-Coburg,
1816. Royal Collection Trust, Wordpress
The debauched prince was described as an indebted, disgraced libertine, too fond of wine and women. King George III correctly complained endlessly about his son’s behaviour. By 1795 George’s debts had spiralled to a HUGE £630,000 (£48m now), at a time when Britain was fighting a brutally expensive war with Napoleonic France!
The Prince of Wales reluctantly agreed to leave his secret Roman Catholic mistress, Maria Fitzherbert, and marry a wealthy princess i.e his cousin German Princess Caroline of Brunswick. They hated each other on sight, but married in Ap 1795 and conceived on their wedding night. When Princess Charlotte was born, Caroline was thrown out and the baby princess was established in her own household.
Charlotte was an affectionate, pretty and high-spirited girl, capturing hearts wherever she went. Increasingly concerned for his only legitimate grandchild, George III played a greater role in his grand daughter’s upbringing. In 1804 he appointed a governess who taught an extensive curriculum eg Latin, history, drawing and music. The princess was not a model pupil but she excelled in piano & equestrianism.
King George IV in his coronation robes, 1821
by Thomas Lawrence
The teenage princess enjoyed immense popularity, contrasting with her mad grandfather George III and her profligate father. When her father became Prince Regent in 1811 upon his father’s madness, he used his new powers to harshly restrict Charlotte’s lifestyle.
Charlotte wanted romance and even the Prince Regent appreciated the need for a suitable husband. And he was motivated by a desire to secure Britain an ally against Napoleon. His first choice was Prince William of Orange. But Charlotte wouldn’t live in Holland post-marriage, arguing that a future British queen shouldn’t marry a foreigner. To dad’s fury, the teenager broke off the engagement herself.
In Aug 1814 Charlotte visited dad and public sympathy with the persecuted princess peaked. Wherever her coach stopped en route, huge crowds cheered: Hail Princess Charlotte, Europe’s Hope and Britain’s Glory!
In early 1815, Charlotte saw Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, a dashing Napoleonic Wars soldier. She made contact with Leopold via intermediaries and liked him. But her father was uncertain; it took months before he’d invite him to Britain.
In Feb 1816, the Prince Regent hosted a dinner for Leopold and his daughter at Brighton, when Charlotte became enraptured. George was also impressed, agreeing that Prince Leopold was perfect. The engagement was celebrated in the House of Commons in Mar 1816 and enormous crowds gathered to celebrate their wedding at Carlton House in May 1816. Princess Charlotte’s sumptuous silver wedding dress cost £10,000.
The loved-up Coburgs became a popular fixture on the London social scene; public appearances prompted wild applause and anthem singing. Public interest in the couple reached fever pitch when Charlotte’s pregnancy was announced in Ap 1817. But Charlotte went into labour 3 weeks late, superintended by male midwife Sir Richard Croft. Two days later, the fearful princess was still pregnant. An obstetrician was called, but Croft refused to admit him; neither did Croft consent to using forceps. After 50 excruciating hours, Charlotte delivered a large, stillborn boy.
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Memorial to Prince Leopold and Princess Charlotte
by Thomas Lawrence
Charlotte wanted romance and even the Prince Regent appreciated the need for a suitable husband. And he was motivated by a desire to secure Britain an ally against Napoleon. His first choice was Prince William of Orange. But Charlotte wouldn’t live in Holland post-marriage, arguing that a future British queen shouldn’t marry a foreigner. To dad’s fury, the teenager broke off the engagement herself.
In Aug 1814 Charlotte visited dad and public sympathy with the persecuted princess peaked. Wherever her coach stopped en route, huge crowds cheered: Hail Princess Charlotte, Europe’s Hope and Britain’s Glory!
In early 1815, Charlotte saw Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, a dashing Napoleonic Wars soldier. She made contact with Leopold via intermediaries and liked him. But her father was uncertain; it took months before he’d invite him to Britain.
In Feb 1816, the Prince Regent hosted a dinner for Leopold and his daughter at Brighton, when Charlotte became enraptured. George was also impressed, agreeing that Prince Leopold was perfect. The engagement was celebrated in the House of Commons in Mar 1816 and enormous crowds gathered to celebrate their wedding at Carlton House in May 1816. Princess Charlotte’s sumptuous silver wedding dress cost £10,000.
Charlotte was desperately sick. By the time Croft arrived, he found his patient bleeding heavily and cold. Before Leopold was woken up, Charlotte was dead and 2 generations of the British monarchy had been wiped out! Never before in British history had there been such heartfelt and widespread mourning for a royal death. Every shop closed up for 2 weeks, as did the Royal Exchange, Law Courts and docks. She was buried in St George’s Chapel Windsor.
This widespread grief resulted in many commemorative works of art, all eagerly eagerly purchased. MC Wyatt’s monument was erected in St George’s Chapel and Henry Howard painted posthumous portraits. Others produced commemorative prints, ceramics and medals, depicting the princess on her ascent to heaven.
This widespread grief resulted in many commemorative works of art, all eagerly eagerly purchased. MC Wyatt’s monument was erected in St George’s Chapel and Henry Howard painted posthumous portraits. Others produced commemorative prints, ceramics and medals, depicting the princess on her ascent to heaven.
Eventually anger emerged, mostly directed against the royal family. Prince George was accused of showing scarce sorrow at his daughter’s death. Nonetheless he was crowned as King George IV in July 1821.
made by Francis John Williamson in marble.
St George's Church, Esher, Surrey
St George's Church, Esher, Surrey
Charlotte’s death, meanwhile, urged George III’s sons to sire an heir. None of them had ever wanted to marry, but the king’s fourth son, Edward Duke of Kent, wed German Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg in May 1818. A year later Princess Victoria was born at Kensington Palace and enjoyed popularity like Charlotte had. On becoming Queen Victoria in 1837, memories of her tragic cousin had faded from public memory. Victoria had rescued the monarchy.
**Now a similar, modern story in our own lifetime. This time the princess was Diana, ex-wife of Prince Charles who died in Paris in 1997. Daughter of Viscount Althorp, Diana saw her parents’ marriage ended in divorce in 1969 and Spencer won custody of the children. Diana had a difficult, unhappy family life.
From the moment teenage Ldy Diana Spencer was suggested as a potential bride for Prince Charles, she became a figure of intense public interest, very popular for her gentleness and beauty. Soon she was the royal family’s own global superstar. Huge crowds gathered to witness her every public appearance, and her 1981 marriage intensified public interest. The royals were the most glamorous couple on earth, Diana more popular than Charles. She represented a bright new future for the monarchy, compared to the stiffly formal Windsors.
Few events in British history have prompted the national dismay that followed Princess Diana’s death in Aug 1997. [I am not a royalist yet I wept]. When she died in a hideous car accident, c1.3 million bouquets arrived at Buckingham and Kensington palaces. The Westminster Abbey funeral was watched by c2.5 billion worldwide. Grief turned to anger, mostly directed against the royal family. But even if Diana’s long-term impact fades, note that Diana left behind beautiful sons to inherit the throne.
Princess Diana and her two much loved sons, Princes Harry and William
Stylecaster
Stylecaster
Read of an exhibition devoted to the short life and tragic death of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, Daughter of England.