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

By Read Books Ltd.

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Apr 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781528798761

Book preview

1.png

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 QUEEN CHARLOTTE

MARRIAGE AND CORONATION

GEORGE III: THE MAD KING

FRIENDS, GOSSIP, AND LADIES OF THE COURT

THE PRIVATE LETTERS OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE

GEORGIAN FASHION: POWDERED WIGS AND LACE

JEWELLERY AND DECEIT

DOGS: A QUEEN’S BEST FRIEND

SNIFFING TOBACCO AND TAKING THE WATERS

MUSIC, COCKTAILS, POETRY, AND BOTANY

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Illustrations

Portrait of Queen Charlotte, c. 1776

By Benjamin West

The Champion's Challenge at the Coronation in Westminster Hall

King George III in Coronation Robes, c. 1765

By Allan Ramsay

Lady Mary Coke, 1762

By James MacArdell

Elizabeth Hamilton, 1st Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon, c. 1760

By Joshua Reynolds

Portrait of Fanny Burney

Painted by her Brother, Edward Francis Burney, c. 1784-5

Chevalier d'Eon, 1792

By Thomas Stewart

Queen Charlotte in a Laced Silk Dress

By Johann Zoffany

Brussels (Point A ’L’ Aiguille)

Formerly belonging to H. M. Queen Charlotte

Old Brussels (Point d’Augleterre)

Formerly belonging to H. M. Queen Charlotte

Mechlin

Formerly belonging to H. M. Queen Charlotte

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Robes of State

By Allen Ramsey

Queen Charlotte

By Benjamin West in 1779

Portrait of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1807

Painted for George IV, by Peter Edward Stroehling

A Peep into The Pump-Room, or, The Zomersetshire Folk in a Maze.

View of the Wilderness at Kew Gardens, 1763

By William 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 periods 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 life and work.

Lizzie Stoddart

Bristol, 2023

Snuff, Pugs, and Lace

Portrait of Queen Charlotte, c. 1776

By Benjamin West

BIOGRAPHICAL

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 their mother.

—Francis Watt,

Dictionary of National Biography,

1885–1900, Volume 10

ON QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S APPEARANCE

Our queen is neither a