Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818)

Queen consort of England. Name variations: Charlotte Sophia or Charlotte-Sophia. Born a princess on May 19, 1744, in Mirow, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany; died on November 17, 1818, in Kew Palace, Surrey; interred at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle; daughter of Charles Louise Frederick (b. 1708), duke of Mecklen-burg-Strelitz and Elizabeth of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1713–1761); married George III (1738–1820), king

of England (r. 1761–1820), on September 8, 1761; children: George IV (1762–1830), prince of Wales and king of England (r. 1820–1830); Frederick Augustus (1763–1827), duke of York; William IV (1765–1837), duke of Clarence; Charlotte Augusta Matilda (1766–1828); Edward Augustus (1767–1820), duke of Kent; Augusta Guelph (1768–1840); Elizabeth (1770–1840); Ernest Augustus (1771–1851), duke of Cumberland; Augustus Frederick (1773–1843), duke of Sussex; Adolphus Frederick (1774–1850), duke of Cambridge; Mary (1776–1857), duchess of Gloucester; Sophia Matilda (1777–1848); Octavius (1779–1783); Alfred (1780–1782); Amelia (1783–1810).

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a shy, plain queen who spoke English haltingly but for some reason "suited George." Eighteen when she married George III, king of England, she and her husband settled down to quiet living. "Life at Charlotte's court," writes Norah Lofts , "even when she was not pregnant—she had fifteen children—sounds stultifyingly dull." But the queen was terrified by the king's illness—then thought mental, now thought physical in nature—which began in 1804. As a result of his violent episodes, Charlotte refused to be alone with him. She died in 1818.

sources:

Lofts, Norah. Queens of England. NY: Doubleday, 1977.

related media:

The Madness of King George, (110 min. film), starring Nigel Hawthorne as George and Helen Mirren as Charlotte, Channel Four Films, 1994.