The Madcap Princess Charlotte

Sense and Sensibility I have just finished reading; it certainly is interesting, & you feel quite one of the company. I think Maryanne & me are very like in disposition, that certainly I am not so good, the same imprudence, &c, however remain very like.”

                                                – Princess Charlotte of Wales

Princess Charlotte of Wales

Princess Charlotte of Wales

Here’s a hint for my next book: everyone will be talking about Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child and heir of the Prince Regent. Never heard of her?  She never became queen because she died at 21, and the crown eventually went to her as-yet-unborn cousin Victoria. Judging from Charlotte’s exuberant and often wild behavior, a Charlottean era would have been quite different from the Victorian era!

In 1811, when my book is set, Charlotte is still alive and expected to be queen someday. I originally planned for her to be a boring figure whom everyone drinks toasts to – and then I started reading her story. She’s one of those cases where history is stranger than fiction. If you prefer your princesses to be decorous and demure, you should probably stop reading this now!

Princess Charlotte as a child

Charlotte’s family was very unpopular in England. Her grandfather George III was mad, and the Prince Regent was disliked because of his excesses and extravagant lifestyle. But Charlotte was adored by the public from the time she was born, and seen as the great hope and pride of England.

The life of the feisty princess was anything but a fairytale. Her parents’ arranged marriage was a disaster from the start. How disastrous? Her mother, Caroline of Brunswick, was coarse, unwashed, and had a history of an improper relationship with an Irish officer. On first meeting his bride-to-be, the Prince Regent said, “I am not well, pray get me a glass of brandy.” Caroline’s reaction? “I think he is very fat and nothing like as handsome as his portrait.” Prinny went to the wedding ceremony drunk. The new couple had marital relations precisely three times. Prinny  believed she was not a virgin. Caroline later hinted he was impotent. The couple separated several weeks later, each going on to have a promiscuous lifestyle. Charlotte was born just nine months after the wedding, already destined to be an only child and therefore the future queen.

Carlton House

Carlton House

Her parents used her as a weapon against each other. Prinny strictly limited his wife’s contact with their daughter, but spent little time with her himself. When Charlotte was eight, he decided he wanted his palatial home, Carlton House, to himself. After dismissing Charlotte’s beloved governess, Lady Elgin, he moved Charlotte into a separate building next door where, as one of her biographers put it, she “lived in a household of her own, in the company of no one who was not paid to be there.”1

Charlotte, her spirits uncrushed, became an outrageous tomboy. One of her childhood playmates, the grandson of her governess, later told of her lively ways, enjoyment of fisticuffs, and love of pranks. Some courtiers found her to be undignified, but others liked her because she did not choose to ‘put on dignity.’ She enjoyed daily drives in her carriage, drawn by her ‘beautiful grey poneys.’ “Accompanied by Lady de Clifford, [Charlotte] would herself take reins and drive off at top speed, turning into a very bumpy field, where the carriage swayed and jolted perilously, and Lady de Clifford shrieked. “Nothing like exercise, my lady”, cried Charlotte. “Nothing like exercise!””2

And then there was her love life. Her first infatuation at age 14 was with an illegitimate cousin who rode beside her carriage every day and would sit in private conversation with her at unseemly length. When he was called away, his place was taken by the handsome Lt. Charles Hesse. Charlotte’s mother blatantly encouraged this romance, passing letters between the two and encouraging Lt. Hesse to sneak into her own rooms at Kensington Palace for illicit meetings with her daughter. She went so far as to lock Charlotte and Hesse into her own bedroom and said, “I leave you to enjoy yourselves.”3 Yes, really, I’m not making this up! Charlotte was then but fifteen.Princess Charlotte and her husband

There were several other tempestuous romances and a widely publicized episode when Charlotte ran off to escape an unwanted marriage, but the princess did get a brief happily-ever-after. Her marriage to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg was brief but blissful.

Is it any surprise she saw herself as being like Marianne in Sense & Sensibility, only “certainly I am not so good, the same imprudence, &c, however remain very like?”

Memorial Pendant with picture of Princess Charlotte

Memorial Pendant with picture of Princess Charlotte

Despite her romances and escapades, the public never stopped adoring Charlotte. When she died giving birth to a stillborn son at age 21, the entire kingdom went into deep mourning. Drapers ran out of black fabric, and even the poor and homeless found black rags to tie around their arms. Henry Brougham wrote, “It really was as though every household throughout Great Britain had lost a favourite child.”

The funeral of Princess Charlotte of Wales

Whew. So how do you write a character like that into fiction without readers assuming it’s a ridiculous exaggeration? The Regency may look beautiful and pure from a distance, but it was a licentious and decadent era when the royal princes and much of the aristocracy were extravagant, wild and often promiscuous, a far cry from the image popularized in movies of noble, aloof aristocrats. I am already dreading complaints from readers that my characterization has maligned the poor princess!

Fortunately for me, Princess Charlotte stays off stage for most of my new book, though there are frequent references to her. But you still may be surprised by what happens when she does appear!

If you think I’m exaggerating, I suggest reading the excellent article on Princess Charlotte at Wikipedia. Here are a few other interesting articles:

Princess Charlotte’s Christmas – Laura Purcell

Charlotte spends time with Charles Hesse – The Princess Charlotte of Wales blog

The Wedding of Princess Charlotte – Madame Gilflirt

The Sadness of Charlotte – The Express

I’ve only footnoted the most outrageous and difficult to believe quotes:

  1. Charlotte & Leopold: The True Story of the Original People’s Princess by James Chambers
  2.  Prinny’s Daughter: A Biography of Princess Charlotte of Wales by Thea Home
  3. Princess Charlotte’s Christmas – Laura Purcell

 

Now I’ll leave you to wonder about why Princess Charlotte comes up so often in my next book. Here’s the tag line: “Once upon a time, disguise of every sort had been his abhorrence. Now Darcy could hardly recall when he had not worn a disguise.” Sound interesting? 😉

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  1. Ooh, interesting! Will Mr Darcy be leading a double life? I’ve heard that the Prince Regent’s family was made up of quite a cast of characters but never read up on it much.

    I’m always happy to hear you’re working on your next book. 🙂

    1. I suppose you could call it a double life. It’s a huge struggle for him, since, as we know, he isn’t a good actor!

    • Anji on November 14, 2016 at 3:36 am
    • Reply

    I’ve seen a fascinating documentary on TV here in the UK that touched on this very subject, Abigail. I can’t remember what it was called or which channel it was on, but until then I’d no idea about Princess Charlotte and her story.

    I love it when authors touch on real historical events in their books, provided it’s done in a believable manner. I’ve no doubt at all that you’ll have done it very well indeed.

    That tag line is most intriguing. I wonder what the disguise is. Is he just hiding his true feelings from the world agter some event in his personal life (Georgiana/Elizabeth perhaps?) or is it a more literal one?

    1. History plays a big role in this book. I’ve been learning a lot about the Napoleonic wars as well, and discovered that trying to read the Napoleonic Code is a sure route to a headache!

    • Caitlin Williams on November 14, 2016 at 5:50 am
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    Great article, Abigail. I agree, the Georgians were a lot more racy than often portrayed in fiction. I look forward as always to the next book, and Princess Charlotte’s guest appearance.

    1. Those Georgians were a handful! It’s hard to balance between staying true to history and pleasing readers who expect the Regency to be like the Victorian era.

    • Meg on November 14, 2016 at 7:13 am
    • Reply

    Your novels are always a favorite. Including historical characters adds interest to me if done in a realistic way. I’m certain yours will be such. Looking forward to more teasers on this new book and reading it in its entirety when it becomes available.

    1. Thanks, Meg! I’m hoping to have some excerpts out soon. 🙂

    • Nicola on November 14, 2016 at 7:15 am
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    Very interesting, thanks Abigail! I’ve researched her not so long ago, after I watched a documentary about the House of Saxon-Coburg on German TV. Her memorial really stuck with me, it’s so highly dramatic and romantic. Perhaps she was so very loved by her subjects, because they sensed that she was more alive and more authentic than all the other Royals. Although I feel for her parents who had to create a child although they detested each other… all in all a interesting choice of name for the youngest English Royal, let’s hope she is destined to a long and happy life!

      • Nicola on November 14, 2016 at 7:22 am
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      Oh, by the way, did you know, that her husband, Leopold, became the first elected king? He was chosen, because Belgium couldn’t find a suitable man amongst their own nobility…they were very modern at the time…and he was the key to his niece, Victoria, marrying his nephew, Albert of Saxon-Coburg, which made the small duchy in northern Bavaria a big player in European Monarchy and History.

    1. Fascinating! I had no idea about Leopold’s post-Charlotte life. I’m oddly limited in my knowledge – I tend to know a lot about what happened up until 1815 or so, and then very little after that. 🙂

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on November 14, 2016 at 11:29 am
    • Reply

    I love it when authors incorporate bits of history into their books. Looking forward to another tale, Abigail. Jen Red

    1. This book will have a few historical surprises in store! I hope you enjoy it.

  2. I adore Charlotte, such a character. A rather eccentric mix of mother and father!

    1. She is a mix of them indeed, which is interesting given how little time she spent with either one. I’d love to know what she’d have been like had she lived longer.

  3. Wow! Looking forward to this story!

    1. Her story is stranger than fiction, isn’t it?

    • Debbie Blackman on November 14, 2016 at 12:42 pm
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    A story involving Charlotte and a disguised Darcy. Can’t wait. I’m sure I’ll love it as much as your other books

    1. Thanks, Debbie!

    • Mary Simonsen on November 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm
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    I’m watching the Crown on Netflix. It’s obvious that Elizabeth was born to be a queen. She did everything to a tee that was expected of a modern monarch. What a contrast to the Hanovers! Victoria also married into the Saxe-Coburg family. No wonder there were genetic disorders in the family. Looking forward to reading the book.

    1. I haven’t seen The Crown yet, but it sounds like fun. I’ve tried to think of whether there were any other British princesses who were destined from birth to become queen, rather than being a question mark in the line of inheritence with the expectation that a younger brother would displace them.

  4. Looks really interesting, Abigail!! I’m so excited! 🙂

    If you need another set of eyes for proofing, I’m here for you. 🙂

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Thanks, Susanne! I’ll keep your offer in mind. 🙂

    • Carole in Canada on November 14, 2016 at 8:49 pm
    • Reply

    Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! Looking forward to Princess Charlotte’s appearances in your next book. I can only imagine Darcy’s ‘role’…

    1. I think you’ll be surprised! 🙂

    • Gwyn on November 14, 2016 at 9:26 pm
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    Shades of Lydia Bennet indeed! I always look forward to each new work of yours. 🙂

    1. Thanks, Gwyn!

    • Kay on November 14, 2016 at 11:46 pm
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    Very excited for the new book! I saw a gorgeous painting of Charlotte at some house I was at a few years ago – it’s embarrassing to say I can’t remember which one – first world problems for sure! I’m thinking it may be Charlecotte House in the Cotswolds – but anyway the guide had LOTS to say of her, and so I was educated as to the scandelous lifestyle she led and it was fabulous to learn!! Is there a publish date??

    1. I’ve never made it to Charlecote, though I’ve wanted to go. Maybe my next UK trip, if there ever is one. 😉 No publication date yet, but I’m thinking February. I’ll be posting the first excerpt in a couple of weeks, though.

    • EvelynTost on November 18, 2016 at 1:39 am
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    So looking forward to your new book. Thank you for the info on Charlotte; I will try to get to Netflix to see more soon.
    Thank you!

    1. Thanks, Evelyn. I could have gone on much longer about Charlotte. She’s such a character!

    • Rosa on November 21, 2016 at 4:55 am
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    First time I heard from Princess Charlotte was 2 weeks ago when I watched the series Victoria on tv(sorry I’m a French girl). Prince Leopold was speaking about her and how things would have been different if she still were alive. Thanks for giving her life!

  1. […] Princess Charlotte was a headstrong rebel who was openly defiant against her upbringing. If you want to find out more about Princess Charlotte’s hoydenish ways, you can check out this article by Abigail Reynolds. […]

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