Charlotte was Britain's longest-serving queen consort , serving for 57 years and 70 days. Charlotte was born into the ruling family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , a duchy in northern Germany. As Charlotte was a minor German princess with no interest in politics, the King considered her a suitable consort, and they married in The marriage lasted 57 years and produced 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood.
Charlotte was a patron of the arts and an amateur botanist who helped expand Kew Gardens. She introduced the Christmas tree to Britain, decorating one for a Christmas party for children of Windsor in She was distressed by her husband's bouts of physical and mental illness, which became permanent in later life.
Charlotte was deeply shocked by the events of the French Revolution and of the ensuing Napoleonic Wars which threatened the safety and sovereignty of her homeland. Her eldest son, George, was appointed prince regent in due to the increasing severity of the King's illness. Charlotte died at Kew Palace in November , with several of her children at her side. George III died a little over a year later, probably unaware of his wife's death.
She was also taught traditional pursuits for upper-class girls, including embroidery, dancing, singing, household management and religion β the latter taught by a priest. Charlotte was also taught to play the harpsichord by composer Johann Georg Linike.
His mother, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha , and his advisors were eager to have him settled in marriage. That proved to be the case; to make sure, George III instructed her shortly after their wedding "not to meddle", a precept she dutifully followed. The King announced to his Council in July , according to the usual form, his intention to wed the Princess, after which a party of escorts, led by the Earl Harcourt , departed for Germany to bring Princess Charlotte to England.
