The Strangest Family

by Janice Hadlow

  Bristol, Elizabeth, Countess of, 60, 63

  Britain: in Seven Years War, 2, 170; self-confidence, 3; population, 4; merchants and trade, 6; wealth, 7–10; popular behaviour, 10, 31; food prices and shortage, 432; financial crisis (1797), 496; war with France, 535; civic unrest, 545–6; economic difficulties during regency, 545–6

  Brooks’s club, London, 289, 409

  Brougham, Henry, Baron, 302, 577

  Brudenell, Mrs (bedchamber woman-in-waiting), 165

  Buckingham, Catherine, Duchess of, 59

  Buckingham, George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of, 378

  Buckingham House: George III and Charlotte move to, 166–8

  Bulkeley, Lady Georgiana, 507, 525

  Bulstrode Park, Buckinghamshire, 251–2, 254

  Burges, James Bland, 367, 436, 443–4

  Burgoyne, General John, 281

  Burke, Edmund, 320, 377, 388, 429, 495; Reflections on the Revolution in France, 428

  Burney, Charles, 302, 319–20

  Burney, Fanny (Madame d’Arblay): dislikes Juliana Schwellenberg, 177; on Queen Charlotte’s wide reading and learning, 253; and Princess Royal’s antipathy to music, 262; and Charlotte’s care for children’s education, 264; on Earl of Harcourt, 311; meets George III and Charlotte, 318–19; appointed Second Keeper of the Robes to Charlotte, 319–22; account of court life, 321–6; relations with and view of Charlotte, 324–8; view of princesses, 328–31; fondness for Princess Augusta, 332–4; on Princess Royal, 336; reads play to Charlotte and princesses, 337; restricted social life at court, 343; and George III’s Cheltenham holiday, 353–4, 356; and George’s illness and treatment, 353, 358, 360, 363, 365–7, 369, 376, 380, 386, 389; on royal family’s not understanding illness, 353; and Queen Charlotte’s helplessness during George’s illness, 369–70; on Prince of Wales taking charge during George’s illness, 374–5; on Fulke Greville, 375; no mention of George being straitjacketed, 379; and George’s move to Kew during illness, 385; praises Dr Willis, 388; and proposed regency, 389; on Charlotte’s reaction to George’s illness, 401–23; encounters improved George on walk, 403; on princesses’ behaviour during father’s illness, 414; in Weymouth with royal family, 417–19, 422–3, 425; and George’s horse-riding, 419; on Sarah Siddons, 423; on Charlotte’s life at Frogmore, 427; and outbreak of French Revolution, 427–9; George III tells of assassination attempt, 430–2; on Princess Royal’s marriage, 466; on Princess Amelia’s appearance, 477; on Walpole’s Mysterious Mother, 491; on Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, 493; on General Garth, 494–5; devotion to Queen Charlotte, 606; Cecilia, 318; Evelina, 318

  Bury, Lady Charlotte, 459

  Bute, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of: background and career, 106–7; influence on George III as tutor, 108, 110–19, 215, 244–5; relations with Augusta, 108–10, 175; ideas and principles, 114–15; character and temperament, 118; illness, 118; and George’s infatuation with Sarah Lennox, 119–20, 122–3, 125, 130, 132; George II distrusts, 129; and George’s marriage prospects, 132–4; Graeme sends Charlotte letter to, 141; and George III’s marriage to Charlotte, 144, 153, 162, 169, 180; George complains of intruder to, 165; and George’s move to Buckingham House, 166; George remains close to, 169; as first minister, 170; relationship with George ends, 170, 172–4; works to end Seven Years War, 170–1; unpopularity, 171; resigns (1763), 172, 283; blamed for George III’s isolation, 179; and George–Charlotte’s children, 182; George III asks to recommend midwife, 183; and Charlotte’s recovery from childbirth, 188; George III keeps portrait of, 216; dedicates books to Queen Charlotte, 254; and Treaty of Paris, 279; Botanical Tables Containing the Families of British Plants, 107, 254

  Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron, 572

  Cambridge, Prince Adolphus, Duke of (George III–Charlotte’s son): birth, 191; sent to University of Göttingen, 248; writes to George in sickness, 401; letter from brother Frederick on father’s madness, 410; on mother’s temper, 436; meets Princess Royal on arrival in Germany, 467; and father’s delusions in final illness, 540; father’s benevolent treatment of, 615

  Campbell, Lady Charlotte, 565–6, 572

  Canada: ceded to Britain, 280

  Canning, George, 536–7, 564

  Cannon, Mrs (midwife), 183

  Cape St Vincent, battle of (1780), 285

  Carlton House, 80, 301, 568

  Caroline of Ansbach, Queen of George II: on disappearance of Königsmark, 24; courtship and marriage, 30–1; marriage relations, 31–2, 35, 41–2, 47, 54–5, 56–7, 78; debts, 32; develops garden at Kew, 32, 82, 217; reading and intellectual interests, 33–4, 48, 50; children, 35, 37, 42; arrives in England, 36–7; confined to apartment by George I and separated from children, 38–41; allowed to visit daughters, 39; and death of baby son, 39; coronation, 45; friendship with Hervey, 46, 49, 55, 63; Hervey records account of, 47; qualities, 47–8; influence on husband and politics, 48–50; relations with Sir Robert Walpole, 48–50; heads Regency Council in husband’s absence, 49, 53; and husband’s mistresses, 51–3, 55, 76; and husband’s passion for Amalie von Wallmoden, 53–6; hostile relations with son Frederick, 57–60, 63–4, 71–2; intercedes for Frederick with George II, 64–5; questions Frederick’s fertility, 68–9; and birth of Frederick–Augusta’s daughter, 71; and Frederick’s expulsion from royal palaces, 73; illness and death, 73–6; refuses to see Frederick while dying, 77

  Caroline of Brunswick, Queen of George IV (earlier Princess of Wales): character and behaviour, 252, 450–5, 456, 459, 567; marriage to Prince of Wales, 449–51; appearance, 451–2; advice from Malmesbury, 453–5; travels to England, 454; poor personal hygiene, 455–6; meets Prince of Wales, 456; wedding and honeymoon, 456–7; birth of daughter, 457–8; husband abandons, 457; Prince of Wales’s disdain and revulsion towards, 458–61, 502, 513; in Prince of Wales’s will, 458; unhappy marriage, 458; lives apart from Prince of Wales, 459, 502; and rumours of Princess Sophia’s incest with brother Ernest, 492; George III visits in Blackheath, 502–3, 507–8; on Amelia and Charles Fitzroy, 521; on Princess Amelia’s gynaecological problems, 524; inquiry into conduct, 564; ignores daughter Charlotte, 567; opposes Charlotte’s marriage to Prince of Orange, 575; daughter Charlotte flees to, 577; leaves to live abroad, 577–8; and daughter Charlotte’s relations with Captain Hesse, 579; death, 611

  Caroline Matilda, Queen of Christian VII of Denmark (George III’s sister), 347–8

  Caroline, Princess of Darmstadt, 133–5, 138

  Caroline, Princess (daughter of Caroline and George II): reunited with parents, 42; dislikes father, 43; father criticises, 51; invective against Frederick, 71–3

  Caroline, Princess (Frederick–Augusta’s daughter): birth, 99; death, 373; on Princess Sophia’s liaison and child, 487

  Carter, Elizabeth, 159–60

  Carteret, Lady Sophia see Shelburne, 2nd Earl and Countess of

  Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 590

  Cathcart, Elizabeth, Lady, 482

  Catherine II (the Great), Empress of Russia, 464–5

  Catholic emancipation question, 498–500

  Charles, Archduke of Austria (later Holy Roman Emperor), 30

  Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Queen Charlotte’s brother): children, 189, 221, 345; Charlotte sends book on children’s education, 199; Charlotte confides in, 221, 229, 313; Charlotte’s correspondence with, 222, 427; and Duke of York’s departure for Germany, 247; and Charlotte’s belief in women’s capacities, 255; Charlotte advises on children’s upbringing, 256; and Charlotte’s concern for George’s overwork, 284; George III writes to, 450; proposes son George marry one of Charlotte’s daughters, 511–12

  Charles Edward Stuart, Prince (‘Bonny Prince Charlie’): rebellion (1745), 91

  Charles William Ferdinand, Prince Duke of Brunswick, 348–9, 452

  Charlotte Augusta Matilda, Princess Royal (George III–Charlotte’s daughter): birth, 190; upbringing, 192; fondness for Lady Charlotte Finch, 209; Mary Coke disparages as child, 212; character and qualities, 259–60, 443; stamm
er, 260; dislikes music, 262; religious faith, 264; devotion to Mary Hamilton, 268–9; and Fanny Burney, 329–30; interests and accomplishments, 336–8; teaches sister Amelia, 337; marriage prospects, 338, 343–6, 350–1, 363, 415, 438–40, 443–4, 463; circle of friends, 343; writes to brother Augustus on father’s illness, 353; celebrates 22nd birthday, 356; father’s supposed attempted assault on, 367; and father’s wish to see family during illness, 380; and assassination attempt on father, 431; deteriorating relations with mother, 435–6; Whig sympathies, 436; appeals to Prince of Wales, 437–40; depression, 443–4, 463; courtship and marriage, 464–8, 471–2; marriage relations, 468–9, 590–2; pregnancy and stillbirth, 470–1; interest in young girls’ welfare, 471; self-improvement, 474; sister Amelia teases, 479; on Garth’s love for illegitimate son, 485; on paternity of Sophia’s illegitimate child, 490; on niece Charlotte’s character and upbringing, 564, 566; on sister Mary’s marriage, 589; and husband’s death, 590; rejects Frederick of Hesse-Homburg, 598; on mother’s qualities, 604; acquires reading desk from mother’s possessions, 608; and father’s treatment of princesses, 616; visit to England in old age, 616–17

  Charlotte Augusta, Princess (George IV’s daughter): stammer, 260, 565; birth, 458; on aunt Amelia, 477; dislikes uncle Ernest, 494; Prince Regent proposes aunts escort in London, 552, 555; on aunt Sophia’s unhappiness, 559–60; and Tom Garth in Weymouth, 561; confidence and assertiveness, 563–4; marriage prospects, 563, 571–8; upbringing and character, 564–6, 569; and parents’ mutual hatred, 566–7; father’s treatment of, 567–8; occupies Warwick House, 567; Whig sympathies, 568–9; dislike of Windsor, 569–71, 574; friendship with Mercer Elphinstone, 569–70; early romances and admirers, 572–3; novel and poetry reading, 572; forms and breaks engagement to Hereditary Prince of Orange, 573–80; and Augustus Frederick of Prussia, 576, 579; father takes over, 576–7; and mother’s departure abroad, 578; regains affection of aunts, 578; account of mother’s indulgence over Captain Hesse, 579–80; courtship and marriage with Leopold, 581–5; pregnancy, birth of stillborn child and death, 592–3; funeral, 594; as lost queen, 611

  Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of George III: George proposes marriage, 125–6, 139; Munchausen suggests as bride for George III, 133–5; background, 136–7; needlework, 137, 263; reading and intellectual interests, 137–8, 164, 253–6, 324–5, 606; appearance, 140; character, 140–2, 327; marriage treaty, 143; prospective coronation, 143; takes leave of family, 144; household, 145; crosses to England in storm, 146; first meets George, 147; wedding, 148–9; early marriage relations, 149, 161–2, 168–9, 180, 275; introduced to English life, 149–50; musical performances and interests, 149, 163, 262; coronation, 151–3; attends theatre and opera, 163; food and drink, 164; public duties, 164, 206–7; occupies Buckingham House, 167–8, 178; in fire at theatre, 174; social isolation, 175–9; relations with Juliana Schwellenberg, 177–8; pregnancies and birth of children, 182–3, 186–8, 190–1, 309; supposed miscarriage, 189; and children’s upbringing and education, 199–201, 205–7, 217, 225–7, 233, 256–9, 262–4, 269, 272–3, 473, 605; uses wet nurses, 200–1; portrayed with children, 202–3; formal manner and restraint, 206, 213–14, 269, 604–5; moves to Kew, 214–18, 238; with dying Augusta, 215; botanical interests, 217, 426; gardening, 217, 254, 426; dislikes Windsor life, 219–24; despondency and boredom, 221–5, 274–5, 530; relations and correspondence with brother Charles, 221–2, 224–5, 229, 247, 255–6, 284, 313, 344, 427, 450; exhausted by childbearing, 223; interest in education, 226–7, 229, 233, 262; library, 226; embraces Anglicanism, 234; religious faith, 235, 606; moral values, 236–7, 245; and Prince William’s departure for navy, 246; and son Frederick’s departure for Hanover, 247; imperfect relations with growing sons, 248; visits Duchess of Portland at Bulstrode, 252–3; liking for Mary Hamilton, 266; criticises Maria Theresa for coldness, 269–70; on boredom of court life, 270; regrets Mary Hamilton’s resignation, 272; concern over George’s workload, 284; on son William’s active service, 285; and death of son Alfred, 292–3; and death of son Octavius, 295; and son George’s affair with Mme Hardenberg, 298; blames son William for unhappiness, 306; final childbirth, 309–10; circle of friends, 310, 316–17; close friendship with Lady Harcourt, 311, 313–15; appoints Fanny Burney to court, 319–22; relations with Fanny Burney, 319, 324–7; court life, 321–2; daughter Augusta’s view of, 335; on Princess Royal’s abilities, 336; obsession with time, 337; opposes Princess Royal’s proposed marriage to Brunswick prince, 344; and daughters’ marriage hopes, 350; and George’s first illness, 353, 360–4, 366–7, 377; in Cheltenham with sick George, 354–5; opposes Prince of Wales’s marriage to Caroline, 363, 450–2; and Dr Warren, 368–9; and George’s move to Kew during illness, 382–6; supports Dr Willis, 387–9, 399; and political intrigues over proposed regency, 391–3, 398; rift with son George, 391; censors bulletins on George’s health, 393–4; visits George in sickness, 396–9, 402–4; George repudiates in favour of Lady Pembroke, 398, 401, 413; catch singing with sick George, 402; depression during George’s illnesses, 402, 513, 543; agrees to George seeing eldest sons, 407; resents eldest sons, 410–12; physical decline after George’s illness, 412; Thomas Lawrence portrait, 412–13; changed manner after George’s illness, 413–14; in Weymouth, 418–19, 422–3, 425–6; life at Frogmore, 426–7; reaction to French Revolution, 427–8; and assassination attempts on George, 431–2, 434; on national economic problems, 432; frugality during economic crisis, 433; and children’s challenge to George’s authority, 435; resolution on maintaining fortitude, 435; temper outbursts, 436, 530; prepares Caroline’s trousseau, 455; and failure of Prince of Wales’s marriage, 457–8, 461–2; admits Lady Jersey to court, 461–2; sends list of grievances to George, 461; withdraws from responsibilities, 462–3, 472; reservations about Frederick of Württemberg, 468; relations with daughter Amelia, 480; and Princess Sophia’s pregnancy, 487–8; on sister Sophia’s innocence, 487; and George’s second illness, 498, 501–6, 508, 513; ends intimate relations with George, 508–10; and brother Charles’s suggesting marriage of son to a princess, 511–13; indifference to Windsor restoration, 511; opposes Amelia’s romance with Fitzroy, 522–3, 525–7, 530; differences with Amelia, 529–30; and Amelia’s death, 534; protests at reappointment of Willis family, 537; wishes to avoid regency, 538; and George’s final illness, 541, 543–4; Elizabeth on emotional rigidity, 543; rift with daughters over prospective independence, 545, 547–53; sympathy for the poor, 546; proposed change to allowance, 547; and forced economies to establishment, 549–50; letter from Prince of Wales attempting to heal rift with daughters, 554; and Princess Augusta’s hopes to marry Spencer, 558; impatience with daughter Sophia’s depression, 560; comforts granddaughter Charlotte, 578; and granddaughter Charlotte’s unwillingness to marry Prince of Orange, 580–1; welcomes Leopold as suitor for Charlotte, 582; on granddaughter Charlotte’s pregnancy, 592; and death of Princess Charlotte, 593; resists Elizabeth’s marriage, 596–7; health decline and death, 601–3; inability to show warmth to children, 604; wins devotion of friends and servants, 606; bravery when threatened by mob, 607; possessions auctioned, 607–8; will, 607

  Cheltenham: development, 7; George III and family holiday in, 354–6

  Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of, 11, 91

  Chesterfield, Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of, 424

  Cheveley, Louisa, 294–5, 316, 493

  children: mortality, 193, 291; welfare and upbringing, 194–202, 204, 206

  Christian VII, King of Denmark, 347

  Christiane, Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 137, 139–40; death, 424

  Claremont, Surrey, 584–5, 592

  Clarence, Prince William, Duke of (later King William IV): birth, 189; childhood, 192; inoculated against smallpox, 210; character, 231, 246; father lectures on responsibility, 233, 615; leaves home for navy, 246; sees active service in navy, 284–5; and death of brother Octavius, 296; father accuses of extravagance, 302; disappoints parents, 304; granted dukedom, 305–
6; rudeness to shipmates, 305; sent to Hanover to learn German, 305; attempts to understand father, 306–7; returns to navy, 306; and sister Augusta, 332–3; and Mrs Fitzherbert’s break with Prince of Wales, 448; on brother George’s treatment of Caroline, 459; final meeting with sister Amelia, 533; visits father in final illness, 539; succeeds to throne, 612

  Clement, Dorothy, 587

  Clermont, William Henry Fortescue, 1st Earl of, 424

  Clifford, Sophia, Lady de, 565

  Cliveden, 84

  Coalbrookdale, 8

  Cobham, Richard Temple, Viscount, 5

  Cock Lane Ghost, 82

  Coke, Lady Mary: on court ladies’ misbehaviour, 156; and boredom of court life, 176; and birth of Queen Charlotte’s daughters, 190–1; on Cotes portrait of Queen Charlotte, 203; on Charlotte’s self-control during illness of son Ernest, 206; on royal children’s boisterousness, 211; observations on upbringing of George–Charlotte’s children, 212, 230–1, 240; on George III’s antipathy to son George, 242; on Mlle Krohme, 258; on taking exercise with royal children, 258; on Princess Augusta’s good looks, 260; on Duke of Gloucester’s secret marriage, 341; on Caroline Matilda’s solitary departure for Denmark, 347

  Commons, House of see Parliament

  Compton, Augusta, 515–16

  Connolly, Thomas, 120

  Cook, Captain James, 320

  Copley, John Singleton, 202–3

  Cornwallis, General Charles, 1st Marquess, 279, 285

  Cornwallis, Frederick, Archbishop of Canterbury, 152

  Cotes, Francis, 203

  Cowper, Hannah, Countess, 259

  Cowper, Mary, Countess, 41

  Cranley, Viscountess (Queen Charlotte’s lady-in-waiting), 534

  Croft, Sir Richard, 592–4

  Cromwell, Oliver, 113

  Culloden, battle of (1746), 87, 91

  Cumberland, Lady Albinia, 541

  Cumberland, Anne (Horton), Duchess of (née Luttrell), 339, 341

  Cumberland, Prince Ernest, Duke of (George III–Charlotte’s son): birth, 191; childhood, 192; portrayed as child, 202; illness, 206, 292; sent to University of Göttingen, 248; and Harcourts, 315; dislikes family parties, 317; Weymouth holidays with family, 419, 424; brother Augustus writes to, 441; and Prince of Wales’s plan to marry Caroline, 451; and sister Charlotte’s marriage prospects, 464; as rumoured father of sister Sophia’s child, 490–4; character and behaviour, 492–4; refuses to admit Willises to Kew, 504; mocks Duke of Gloucester, 586; father lectures, 615