Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817)

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Curryong

Almost certainly Charlotte would have been married in her father's house in London, as she did when she married Leopold later.

'Charlotte and Leopold' by James Chambers, 'subtitled The True Story of the Original People's Princess', tells the story of Charlotte's love affairs and life. It has a chapter on 'Slender Billy' and the marriage negotiations.

It's pretty clear that Charlotte thought William was courteous and kindly but wasn't physically attracted to him.

For a time, before she set her mind on Leopold and while the Prince Regent still had hopes of William of Orange, Charlotte was exchanging passionate letters with Prince August of Prussia. He, like Leopold, was serving on the continent against Napoleon. However he proved to be a philanderer!

Leopold must have been spectacularly handsome. Most of the ladies at Court thought he was wonderful.

That must be whoever I read about, that she wasn't really that interested in William because she was in love with someone else..
Charlotte was silly and I daresay highly sexed, liked much of her family. Leopold seems to have calmed her down and made her more responsible..

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Denville

Oh, yes he was "Slender Billy" wasn't he? So really as a future King, I am sure he felt he had a right to have her move to the Nehterlands..

Much of the vilification of William in the British press came after Charlotte's death, when she was put on a pedestral for the public. He always behaved gentlemanly though the behavior of the princess was absolutely appaling.

It was mainly her father who wanted her out of the country. As I wrote above, the Dutch dropped the requirement alltogether, though intially they hoped for 'several months per year', which would not be very odd.

The main thing that Willem had against him was that he was selected by the prince-regent. Curiously enough, Willem would later have a simular attitude to new marriage candidates that were suggested by his father.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

The Hereditary Prince of Orange came from a family that Princess Charlotte's mother detested. Charlotte declined to attend every event at which she thought Prince William might be present.

Kind ofa difficiult way to meet and get on with your future husband...

[CyrilVladisla]

Originally Posted by Denville

Kind ofa difficiult way to meet and get on with your future husband...

Exactly. If poor Princess Charlotte did not even want to see Prince William, what would she do on her wedding day?

[CyrilVladisla]

1814 First metting between Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
1814 First meeting between Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | Grand Ladies | gogm

[An Ard Ri]

At the time of their wedding in May 1816 Princess Charlotte was second in line to the British throne after her father the Prince Regent. Sadly Princess Charlotte never lived to see her father become King and predeceased him in 1817.

[Prinsara]

There's a book called "Caroline and Charlotte" about the princess and her mother, which I read relatively recently and enjoyed. Charlotte seems to have been a true Hanoverian character, with a sense of humor she probably desperately needed. She was funny. Spunky, even. Never learned to spell. She would have been an interesting queen.

It's so sad what happened to her, but at least she was happy with Leopold. And a bit like his niece losing Albert suddenly (...or his namesake great-great-nephew losing Astrid...), he never does seem to have gotten over it.

[maria-olivia]

There was really love between Charlotte and Leopold. How tragic end!
Napoleon sais the was the most elegant Prince he met..

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

There was really love between Charlotte and Leopold. How trafic end!
Napoleon sais the was the most elegant Prince he met..

Had Princess Charlotte lived longer she could have been the 1st Anglican Queen of Belgium.

[SLV]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Had Princess Charlotte lived longer she could have been the 1st Anglican Queen of Belgium.

No, because then Leopold wouldn't have become king of the Belgians.

[maria-olivia]

In our History Books it is written , she was so in love that when she would have been Queen , He should be King !
Léopold lost his wife , his Child and his throne.
(The Docter commited suicide.)

[Tarlita]

Yes it is one of the many truly sad events in Royal history that changed the course of British Royal history. And Leopold was devastated by her death.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

Yes it is one of the many truly sad events in Royal history that changed the course of British Royal history. And Leopold was devastated by her death.

Completely agree and I feel that Princess Charlotte is somewhat forgotten.

[maria-olivia]

You are right , it seems the long and succesful Reign of Queen Victoria stole the show of her Predecessors .

In our Royal Palace there is a Painting who was in King Leopold's Room showing Charlotte and her Child welcoming in Paradise ...

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

In our History Books it is written , she was so in love that when she would have been Queen , He should be King !
Léopold lost his wife , his Child and his throne.
(The Docter commited suicide.)

Well, William of the Netherlands would apparently see Leopold and say 'there's the guy who stole my wife and my country', so.

Contrary to popular rumor it seems Charlotte's accoucheur might not have been incompetent, she did get the best care available at the time, and there was simply nothing to be done. A very good argument: https://www.kyrackramer.com/2019/11/...otte-of-wales/

Which means that poor man killed himself for nothing.