Flora Fraser, daughter of Lady Antonia Fraser has produced a masterful history of the daughters of King George III and Queen Charlotte that reads like a good novel.
Publisher: Anchor Books
Publication Date: April 2006
ISBN: 9781400096695
Americans' Limited View of George III
King George III was king of England during the American Revolution, and Americans who know anything about him generally perceive him as a loopy, ineffective king who was quite interesting and colorful, but who may not have been an intellectual powerhouse. This conception was seriously inadequate.
George, who contended with problems on the European continent shortly after the loss of the American colonies, was much more on the ball than we Americans give him credit for. If nothing else, his feat of successfully raising and educating 13 children is very impressive on its own.
To George, the American colonists were a group of impertinent rebels who behaved very rudely. While his loss of the colonies is a pivotal milestone of history for Americans, George had enough on his plate that he almost had to have a "win some, lose some" philosophy in terms of world events.
King George III and Queen Charlotte Raise a Large, Accomplished Brood
This book does not concern itself much with British foreign policy, but with King George III and Queen Charlotte's six daughters. There were also seven brothers, and two other sons who did not survive childhood.
Queen Charlotte was a German princess who married George at age 17 and immediately commenced to producing heirs. She had her first daughter when she was only 22 and already the mother of three sons. The daughters can be mentally divided into "the older princesses," Charlotte, Augusta, and Elizabeth, and "the younger princesses," Sophia, Mary, and Amelia.
Though the times dictated that Kings get their daughters married and off their hands as soon as possible, George was not at all eager to see any of his young princesses married. In fact, he made a law that royal approval was required in order for any of his children to marry.
Daughter Charlotte chafed at being held at home well into her twenties. She was in her late twenties when she finally was permitted to marry a German prince, and was considered a very old bride indeed.
Augusta and Elizabeth grew up to be educated, successful women, but the younger princesses had their share of problems. Amelia suffered poor health all her life, and Sophia gave birth to an illegitimate son, an event that put many of her dreams out of reach. Mary, however outlived her siblings and doted on her niece, a girl named Victoria, who reigned as Queen for the better part of the 19th century.
The stories of the seven brothers are told only obliquely, and would no doubt fill up an equally thick volume. Princesses is a very thoroughly researched book. Flora Fraser must have learned her craft well from her mother, Lady Antonia Fraser, whose own histories are meticulously researched and noted. In fact, Princesses is capped by 78 pages of notes. Fraser is also quick to point out instances where speculation is strong, but not necessarily supported by known written evidence.
Princesses would make a perfect summer vacation book. It is filled with solid historical information that is charming and intriguing as any thick, rich novel. In addition to Princesses, Flora Fraser is the author of biographies of Emma Hamilton, Beloved Emma, and Queen Caroline, The Unruly Queen.
