The Heartbreaking Story of Charlotte, Princess of Wales

November 2023 | History Blog

The Heartbreaking Story of Charlotte, Princess of Wales

The German royal family had done little to ingratiate themselves to their subjects since Georg, Elector of Hanover, had assumed the throne of Great Britain on the death of his cousin, Queen Anne. Anne’s death ended the Stuart line which had been in existence since 1603 in England and Ireland, and 1371 in Scotland! Religious division solemnised by the 1701 Act of Settlement barred any Catholic from taking the throne, meaning that closer relations including Anne’s own half-brother James, the son of James II of England /VII of Scotland, were passed over in favour of her closest Protestant relative, all other factors ignored. The Act of Settlement came the year after William II, and the only surviving child of Queen Anne both died. The Act now named the new line of succession to ensure a Protestant successor for Anne. Sophia of Hanover, a cousin of Anne’s and the granddaughter of James I of England/VI of Scotland would be Queen after Anne, and following her, her son, Georg. In the event, Sophia predeceased Anne by only two months and Georg became King of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as Elector of Hanover.

On his accession his name was anglicised to George but King George I didn’t speak much English and relied heavily on British advisors and Ministers. The king’s inability to take direct, or any significant role in the governance of the country, eased the way for a significant progression toward constitutional monarchy, where Parliament took more control over the running of the country.

With all the privilege of being the ruling family, but with less responsibility than at any time in the history of the monarchy, the ‘Hanoverian’ family displayed arrogance and contempt towards their subjects and the country. They spent money on outrageous and morally questionable lifestyles and their behaviour did not go unnoticed with the royal family often being satirised in pamphlets and the popular press. There was one member of the royal family however, who was an exception, Princess Charlotte.