Snuff, Pugs, and Lace - The Real History Behind Queen Charlotte

Various

Description

A fascinating insight into the life of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Britain’s longest reigning queen consort. This unique collection of essays, poetry, and artwork reveals the true history behind the brilliant wife of King George III.

Queen Charlotte (1744–1818) left an enduring impact on British society and culture. From her patronage of the arts and botanical interests to the scandal surrounding her personal life and addictions, this volume reveals the unknown details of the Georgian queen’s reign. Discover her private letters, delve into her friendships, and explore how she helped run the country while the mental health of King George III deteriorated.

The chapters featured in this volume include:

• Biographical Portraits of Queen Charlotte


• George III: The Mad King


• Friends, Gossip, and Ladies of the Court


• The Private Letters of Queen Charlotte


• Georgian Fashion: Powdered Wigs and Lace


• Dogs: A Queen’s Best Friend


• Sniffing Tobacco and Taking the Waters


• Music, Cocktails, Poetry, and Botany


• Last Will and Testaments

Read & Co. Brilliant Women is proudly publishing this brand-new volume of essays, poetry, artwork, and archival documents in an exploration of the untold history of the Georgian queen.

Sujets

• Lettres et linguistique
• Biography
• Royalty
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 18 avril 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528798761
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

SNUFF, PUGS, AND LACE
THE REAL HISTORY BEHIND QUEEN CHARLOTTE
By
VARIOUS
Copyright © 2023 Read & Co. Brilliant Women
This edition is published by Read & Co. Brilliant Women, an imprint of Read & Co.
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Read & Co. is part of Read Books Ltd. For more information visit www.readandcobooks.co.uk
Contents
INTRODUCTION
BIOGRAPHICAL PORTRAITS OF QUE EN CHARLOTTE
MARRIAGE AN D CORONATION
GEORGE III : THE MAD KING
FRIENDS, GOSSIP, AND LADIES OF THE COURT
THE PRIVATE LETTERS OF QUE EN CHARLOTTE
GEORGIAN FASHION : POWDERED W IGS AND LACE
JEWELLER Y AND DECEIT
DOGS : A QUEEN’S BEST FRIEND
SNIFFING TOBACCO AND TAKIN G THE WATERS
MUSIC, COCKTAILS, POETRY , AND BOTANY
LAST WILL AN D TESTAMENTS
B IBLIOGRAPHY
Illustrations
Portrait of Queen Charlot te, c. 1776 By B enjamin West
The Champion's Challenge at the Coronation in West minster Hall
King George III in Coronation Ro bes, c. 1765 By Allan Ramsay
Lady Mar y Coke, 1762 By Jam es MacArdell
Elizabeth Hamilton, 1st Baroness Hamilton of Hamel don, c. 1760 By Jos hua Reynolds
Portrait of F anny Burney Painted by her Brother, Edward Francis Burne y, c. 1784-5
Chevalier d'Eon, 1792 By Th omas Stewart
Queen Charlotte in a Lace d Silk Dress By Jo hann Zoffany
Brussels (Point A ’L ’ Aiguille) Formerly belonging to H. M. Que en Charlotte
Old Brussels (Point d ’Augleterre) Formerly belonging to H. M. Que en Charlotte
Mechlin Formerly belonging to H. M. Que en Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Ro bes of State By Allen Ramsey
Que en Charlotte By Benjamin West in 1779
Portrait of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Str elitz, 1807 Painted for George IV, by Peter Edwar d Stroehling
A Peep into The Pump-Room, or, The Zomersetshire Fol k in a Maze.
View of the Wilderness at Kew G ardens, 1763 By Will iam Chambers
INTRODUCTION
Sophia Charlotte was born into the Mecklenburg-Strelitz dukedom in northern Germany on 19th May 1744. As a young girl, she was selected as a suitable bride for King George III due to her excellent education, language fluency, and little political experience. At just 17, the princess was shipped to England to begin her new life as queen consort. On 8th September 1761, just six hours after she arrived in the country, she and George III were united in marriage.
Queen Charlotte left an enduring impact on British culture and society. From her introduction of the Christmas tree to her influence on music and fashion to the gossip and scandal surrounding her reign, the real history behind Queen Charlotte is captivating. Serving the country for a total of 57 years and 70 days, she remains Britain’s longest-serving queen consort. She became a patron of the arts, supporting and befriending world-renowned musicians and artists. Her botanical interests enriched Kew Gardens’ vibrantly diverse collection, and she played a significant role in influencing the elegant and modest Regency Era fashion trends. Her dedication to philanthropy and charity was also noteworthy, and she was particularly interested in education and healthcare.
Not without controversy, Queen Charlotte was the subject of much gossip and has been closely scrutinised throughout history. Her excessive love of dogs, jewellery, and snuff tobacco sparked rumours and speculation. Nonetheless, she dedicated much of her life to caring for her 15 children and overseeing the medical treatment of George III as his mental health rapidly deteriorated, leaving him incapacitated for extended perio ds of time.
Through a unique collection of essays, poetry, artwork, and archival documents, this volume provides a thorough insight into the reign and legacy of the brilliant Queen Charlotte as never seen before. Delving into her fascinating history and commemorating her vital role and indelible mark on eighteenth-century Britain, this is a celebration of her li fe and work.
Liz zie Stoddart B ristol, 2023
Snuff, Pugs, and Lace
Portrait of Queen Charlot te, c. 1776 By B enjamin West
B IOGRAPHICAL PORTRAITS OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE
Charlotte Sophia (1744–1818), queen of George III, king of England, was the youngest daughter of Charles Lewis, brother of Frederic, third duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. When a young girl she was so distressed at the ravages of the Prussian troops on a relative's territory, that she wrote a letter to their king begging him to restrain them. This letter found its way to England, and is said to have done something to direct the attention of the English court to her as a suitable consort for George (Mahon, History of England , 1846). The inquiries made resulted in a formal proposal, which was accepted, and the princess set off for England. The voyage from Cuxhaven to Harwich took ten days, for the ship was delayed by contrary winds. Charlotte beguiled the time by practising English tunes on the harpsichord. On 7 Sept. 1761 she landed in England. The next day she saw George for the first time at St. James's. From that moment till the king's illness she said that she never knew real sorrow. They were married late that same evening. Their coronation took place on 22 Sept. of that year (a minute description is given in Richard Thompson’s Faithful Account, &c., 1820).
Her appearance at this time is briefly described by Horace Walpole: 'She is not tall nor a beauty. Pale and very thin; but looks sensible and genteel. Her hair is darkish and fine; her forehead low, her nose very well, except the nostrils spreading too wide. The mouth has the same fault, but her teeth are good. She talks a great deal, and French tolerably' ( Letters , iii. 434).
The records of Charlotte's life are entirely of a domestic nature. She was merely a lay figure in the numerous state pageants in which her position obliged her to take part, and she had no interest in nor influence over English politics, which she probably scarcely understood. The king, though a devoted husband, never discussed affairs of state with her. She was a woman of little ability, but she certainly acted up to her own standard of duty. Court life during this long reign was perfectly decorous, and it must be added very dull and colourless. Scandal could only say of her that she was somewhat mean in money matters; but this was probably from early training (the story of an intrigue with the Chevalier d'Eon hardly requires serious mention; see Thoms, Queen Charlotte and the Chevalier d'Eon, reprinted from Notes and Queries, 1867). In 1788, when the king became ill, the care of his person and the disposition of his household were placed in her hands, and in 1810, when, on the death of the Princess Amelia, George became permanently insane, much the same arrangements were made. The queen died at Kew 17 Nov. 1818, and was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. Of the fifteen children born of her marriage, the last three, Octavius, Alfred, and Amelia, predeceased t heir mother.
—F rancis Watt, Dictionary of Nationa l Biography , 1885–190 0, Volume 10
ON QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S APPEARANCE
Our queen is neither a wit nor a beauty. She is prudent, well-informed, has an excellent understanding, and is very charitable. I spent three months in the country where she was born; and the people there have quick conceptions, and are well-natured. Her Majesty has an elegant person, good eyes, good teeth, a Cleopatra nose, and fine hair. The expression of her countenance is pleasing and interesting; it is full of sense and good temper. She loves domestic pleasures; is fonder of diamonds than the Queen of France; as fond of snuff as the King of Prussia; is extremely affable, very pious, and is praised by all the world, at home and abroad.
— The Annual Biography and Obituary for the Year 18 21 , Volume V
In another letter, written to General Conway, then in Ireland, Mr. Walpole gave a very characteristic sketch of the Queen, with some anecdotes, which cannot be told so well as in hi s own words.
“The date of my promise is now arrived, and I fulfil it—fulfil it with great satisfaction, for the Queen is come. I have seen her, have been presented to her, and may go back to Strawberry. For this fortnight I have lived upon the road between Twickenham and London. I came, grew impatient, returned; came again, still to no purpose. The yacht made the coast of Suffolk last Saturday, on Sunday entered the road of Harwich and on Monday morning, the king’s chief eunuch, as the Tripoline embassador calls Lord Anson, landed the princess. She lay that night at Lord Abercorn’s at Witham, the palace of Silence; and yesterday, at a quarter after three, arrived at St. James’s.
In half an hour, one heard of nothing but proclamations of her beauty: everybody was content, every body pleased. At seven one went to court. The night was sultry. About ten, the procession began to move towards the chapel, and at eleven they all came up into the drawing-room. She looks very sensible, cheerful, and is remarkably genteel. Her tiara of diamonds was very pretty; her stomacher sumptuous; her violet-velvet mantle and ermine so heavy, that the spectators knew as much of her upper half as the king himself. You will have no doubt of her sense by what I shall tell you. On the road they wanted to curl her toupet: she said she thought it looked as well as that of any of the ladies sent to fetch her; if the King bid her, she would wear a periwig, otherwise she would remain as she was.
When she caught the first glimpse of the palace, she grew frightened and turned pale. The Duchess of Hamilton smiled—the princess said, “My dear duchess, you may laugh: you have been married twice, but it is no joke to me.” Her lips trembled as the coach stopped, but she jumped out with spirit, and has done nothing but with good humour and cheerful