The King announced to his Council in July 1761, according to the usual form, his intention to wed the Princess, after which a party of escorts, led by the Earl Harcourt, departed for Germany to conduct Princess Charlotte to England. That proved to be the case to make sure, he instructed her shortly after their wedding 'not to meddle', a precept she was glad to follow. The 17-year-old Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz appealed to him as a prospective consort partly because she had been brought up in an insignificant north German duchy, and therefore would probably have had no experience or interest in power politics or party intrigues. His mother, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, and his advisors were eager to have him settled in marriage. When George III succeeded to the throne of Great Britain upon the death of his grandfather George II, he was 22 years old and unmarried. Marriage Princess Charlotte by Johann Georg Ziesenis, c. Only after her brother Adolphus Frederick succeeded to the ducal throne, in 1752, did she gain any experience of princely duties and of court life. She received some rudimentary instruction in botany, natural history, and language from tutors, but her education focused on household management and religion – the latter taught by a priest. Her upbringing was similar to that of a daughter of an English country gentleman. According to diplomatic reports at the time of her engagement to George III in 1761, Charlotte had received 'a very mediocre education'. The children of Duke Charles were all born at the Unteres Schloss (Lower Castle) in Mirow. Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a small north-German duchy in the Holy Roman Empire. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow (1708–1752), and his wife Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1713–1761).

George III died a little over a year later, probably unaware of his wife's death.Įarly life Charlotte's birth place in Mirow Charlotte died in November 1818 with her son George at her side. Her eldest son, George, was appointed prince regent in 1811 due to the increasing severity of the King's illness. She maintained a close relationship with Queen Marie Antoinette of France, and the French Revolution is likely to have enhanced the emotional strain felt by Charlotte. She was distressed by her husband's bouts of physical and mental illness, which became permanent in later life. She introduced the Christmas tree to Britain, decorating one for a Christmas party for children of Windsor in 1800. They included two future British monarchs, George IV and William IV as well as Charlotte, Princess Royal, who became Queen of Württemberg and Prince Ernest Augustus, who became King of Hanover.Ĭharlotte was a patron of the arts and an amateur botanist who helped expand Kew Gardens. The marriage lasted 57 years and produced 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood. As Charlotte was a minor German princess with no interest in politics, George considered her a suitable consort, and they married in 1761. In 1760, the young and unmarried George III inherited the British throne. Charlotte was Britain's longest-serving queen consort, serving for 57 years and 70 days.Ĭharlotte was born into the ruling family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a duchy in northern Germany. As George's wife, she was also Electress of Hanover until becoming Queen of Hanover on 12 October 1814. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-HildburghausenĬharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte – 17 November 1818) was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until her death in 1818. Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburghĭuke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow.Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex.Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg.Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn.Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany.

Family tree queen victoria george iii