#Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

[kate-bridgerton]

King George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgeton Story

[classic-art-favourites]

Queen Charlotte by Thomas Gainsborough, 1781.

[kory-dany]

In defense of Charlotte as a mother

Quick disclaimer this post is not trying to undermine charlottegeorge's (we seriously need to come up with a better ship name) children's feelings towards their mother. Although we know very little about them, it's obvious their relationship with Charlotte isn't perfect, but if I'm being honest, I'm tired of this narrative that she was an awful mother. I 100% agree that she wasn't the best mother (tbh, none of the Bridgerton mothers are. That's what makes the show interesting), but people keep suggesting that she's Augusta-level bad, and that's just not true.

Firstly, everyone keeps forgetting that Lottie lost her parents when she was young, which suggests she didn't have a motherly presence for at least half her life. Secondly, she was eighteen when she had her first child. Eighteen and her strongest examples of motherhood were probably Agatha and Augusta (both, again, arguably not the most amazing mothers). Thirdly, she had fifteen kids. FIFTEEN!! Thirteen (twelve???) surviving, I'm not saying she didn't love them equally, but that's a lot of kids to get to know.

My main argument, however, is that Charlotte probably was not the best mother, and she probably did focus more on being queen and protecting George — which I would argue was also protecting her children. However, she is not Augutsa 2.0 (who, even though not the best mother did try).

Charlotte had twelve (thirteen, idk any more consistency is not this shows strength) surviving children, and it seemed that, for the most part, she let them do whatever they wanted. Unlike Augusta, who tried to control every aspect of George's life, she let her sons whore about (her words, not mine), and she clearly didn't meddle too much in her daughter's love lives. It's only until the very last minute that she inserts herself into their affairs.

At first, it was just her telling them to marry suitable people and produce an heir. She still allowed them to marry who they liked, just as long as they were from a specific pool. And if I'm being honest, that pool wasn't that small; they literally had all of Europe. One of them could have found someone if they had tried. But alas, they didn't which forced Charlotte's hand, leading to arranged marriages.

I think none of them really took her command of marriage seriously because none of them, outside of George probably, knows what responsibility is. Yes, we know that her daughters stayed because they couldn't bare to see their mother remain stuck in time. However, Charlotte did what Augusta couldn't. She didn't let the weight and responsibility of the crown break her children. To her, she was a good mother because she gave them freedom — freedom George never had — she let them have affairs and stay unmarried because she refused to put pressure on them the way Augusta and everyone else did on George.

Her children didn't crack under the crown's weight because she did. Charlotte had two choices: be the best queen or be the best mother. I think she chose the option that made the most sense to her. By being the best queen (George's queen), George had someone on his side, the kingdom had stability, AND her children got to live their lives.

Charlotte had so much responsibility from such a young age; is it really shocking that she couldn't juggle it all? Furthermore, people keep acting like she didn't love her kids, but she clearly did. She was very much pained when Elizabeth confessed her miscarriages, she was gentle with William when he admitted he was scared, and she was ecstatic when Edward announced Victoria's pregnancy. She didn't even care that they thought it would be a girl.

Overall, Charlotte is not a perfect mother, but none of the Bridgerton mothers are (not even Violet). All the mothers in this world are just women who tried their best. And as much as their best may not have been enough, it's all they had. Bridgerton does this brilliant thing, highlighting the toxic cycle that occurs when child-baring is a societal expectation, even in relationships made from love and children produced by autonomy. Charlotte's story is just another example.

[tiny-librarian]

Closeup of a dress that belonged to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III.

[aquitainequeen]

With Queen Charlotte getting everyone interested, here's my favourite version of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, from the opening of The Madness of King George by Alan Bennett!

[hmqueencharlotte]

Promotional Poster. Liam Daniel's photography is simply wonderful. Her gaze and the sparkle of her jewelry instantly catch our attention. I love her gaze.

[lykanthropy]

Queen Charlotte Sophia by Allan Ramsay (c. 1784)

[myimaginarymary]

I’m waiting for certain fandoms to realize that these two men are based on the same historical person.

And that is this man.

Or is it known but just ignored?

AKA — One interpretation made him sexy. The other Jonathan Groffed him/Lin Manueled (Man-uel Handled???) him.

[queenaryastark]

Dearest gentle reader, This is the story of Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton. It is not a history lesson. It is fiction inspired by fact. All liberties taken by the author are quite intentional. Enjoy. -- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Translation: we know historians are throwing tantrums over Charlotte being cast with black actresses, which only fuel the already established rumors about her ethnicity. Chill the f*ck out... It's just fiction and escapism where (somewhat) racially diverse people wear pretty costumes in pretty settings and hook up.

[fragilefangirl]

My favorite line in Queen Charlotte is "Come. Hide from the heavens with me."

Like it's just so chefs kiss of how the head of the church is afraid of heavens above all things, something that most people desires, the ultimate reward in the afterlife. Its just so chefs kiss how it shows the level of burden that must've come with his title and the glory that came with it. And it was just so chefs kiss of how Charlotte, despite perhaps not quite understanding it, understood him enough to go with along. To let him fear the one thing everyone desires, and to essentially protect him from it.

With Lottie, He can be Farmer George, afraid of heavens. With Lottie, he can be anything, feel anything, be anything--even if it was the person everybody else refuses to see. But it's okay, because Lottie wasn't everybody, and not only did she see him, she also embraced him.

"Come. Hide from the heavens with me." What a line. What a delivery. What a love.

[greengableslover]

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY | Official Teaser | NETFLIX

[kate-bridgerton]

Charlotte and George + Going at it in front of their servants

[classic-art-favourites]

Queen Charlotte by Allan Ramsay, 1762.

[daenerys-tarrgaryen]

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023-) 

The Young Victoria (2009)

[behindfairytales]

India Amarteifio in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023) as young Queen Charlotte

[catherinesboleyn]

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

1.01 (2023)