Queen Charlotte : Family, Duty, Scandal

This biography provides a well-rounded analysis of Queen Charlotte by considering her own perspectives on queenship and her role in Britain. It explores her relationships within the royal family and the court, how she was perceived in the British public sphere and in the press during her reign as queen consort, and the impact of the ‘madness’ of her husband, King George III.

This book provides readers with a comprehensive, nuanced, and sensitive analysis of Queen Charlotte’s life and legacy. Charlotte embodied many of the features of queenship and womanhood that were valued in this period, such as charity and familial duty, but she also struggled with her husband’s persistent insanity, political scandals, and issues with her many children. The book provides students and general readers with an exploration of this fascinating queen, who reigned as consort for an impressive 57 years, but who has been eclipsed by the legacies of her husband and her son. It also contributes to queenship studies by enhancing our understanding of how issues such as charity, political interference, and familial scandals impacted on the position of queen consort. This biography incorporates new sources and perspectives from both Britain and Germany, including material unearthed through the Georgian Papers Programme, as well as material culture and visual culture. It explores themes of print culture, Charlotte’s friendships, identity, and royal philanthropy.

Queen Charlotte is essential reading for students of eighteenth-century Britain and its Empire and the history of queenship, women, gender studies, and popular culture more broadly.