What do you think?
Rate this book
The Real Queen Charlotte
Known to millions as the imperious matriarch of Bridgerton’s court, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was still a teenager when she was chosen to be the bride of King George III. Shy, innocent, and sheltered, the orphaned princess and her youthful groom carried the hopes of a nation on their shoulders.
The placid and unassuming young couple symbolised a new beginning, but soon those hopes began to sour. Charlotte and George’s marriage lasted for nearly 60 years and produced more than a dozen children, but it was beset by unrest at home, war in the colonies, and the king’s encroaching madness.
As the royal couple battled against their critics, their political opponents, and sometimes even their own family, Charlotte learned what it really meant to be queen. Locked in a bitter struggle with her eldest son for the king’s future and with her daughters for their freedom, the timid young girl grew into an insular and domineering woman that few dared to cross.
Shouldering the burden of family disputes, ambitious courtiers, and the care of the man she adored, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz presided over one of the most tumultuous eras that the monarchy has ever seen. As tragic as it was glittering, this is the story of her extraordinary life.
The placid and unassuming young couple symbolised a new beginning, but soon those hopes began to sour. Charlotte and George’s marriage lasted for nearly 60 years and produced more than a dozen children, but it was beset by unrest at home, war in the colonies, and the king’s encroaching madness.
As the royal couple battled against their critics, their political opponents, and sometimes even their own family, Charlotte learned what it really meant to be queen. Locked in a bitter struggle with her eldest son for the king’s future and with her daughters for their freedom, the timid young girl grew into an insular and domineering woman that few dared to cross.
Shouldering the burden of family disputes, ambitious courtiers, and the care of the man she adored, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz presided over one of the most tumultuous eras that the monarchy has ever seen. As tragic as it was glittering, this is the story of her extraordinary life.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2022
223 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Curzon
57 books190 followersCatherine Curzon writes books about old Hollywood and even older royals. She writes WW2 sagas for Orion as Ellie Curzon.
Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.
Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 15, 2022
A QUICK AND CONCISE BIOGRAPHY
You don't have to have watched Bridgerton to enjoy this biography about Queen Charlotte, the wife of the ill-fated George III of England. Curzon takes you through the ups and downs of Charlotte's life in this concise and to the point biography. There are no detours, making this book very easy to read and finish while still getting a lot of useful information and insights. That being said, it is very matter-of-fact and not all that deep. But if you're not after that, this is the book for you. Only thing that gave me a brief pause was the fact that Curzon decided to cite herself as a source. As a historian, I always find this to be a red flag in history non-fiction.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
You don't have to have watched Bridgerton to enjoy this biography about Queen Charlotte, the wife of the ill-fated George III of England. Curzon takes you through the ups and downs of Charlotte's life in this concise and to the point biography. There are no detours, making this book very easy to read and finish while still getting a lot of useful information and insights. That being said, it is very matter-of-fact and not all that deep. But if you're not after that, this is the book for you. Only thing that gave me a brief pause was the fact that Curzon decided to cite herself as a source. As a historian, I always find this to be a red flag in history non-fiction.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
August 10, 2023
4 solid stars!
This was interesting and informative.
I know little about this period so I'm unsure of the accuracy. That said what was offered matched what little I know.
This was interesting and informative.
I know little about this period so I'm unsure of the accuracy. That said what was offered matched what little I know.
August 28, 2022
The story of a real life princess from a small court who had an arranged marriage with the king of one of the most powerful countries in Europe. They loved each other, had a big family and lived happily ever after. Ok, the happily ever after didn't quite happen. She didn't get along with her in-laws and her husband preferred she stay somewhat isolated from court doings and politics. Then her eldest son and husband didn't agree on politics. But all lives have some problems. She did have her daughters for company. But then her husband went mad....
Yes, this is the life story of Queen Charlotte, King George III's wife. There were a lot of wonderful things and not so wonderful in her life. It is kind of ironic that when she was young and recently came to London she complained about being kept somewhat isolated and then turned around and did that to her own daughters. In fact, she kept them very close, didn't encourage them to participate in court life and very much discouraged them from getting married. The public made comments about the daughters being kept living like a nunnery.
The work was well researched and easily readable. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. I wish there had been more of a conclusion that talked a bit about her influence but overall a good biographer. For those who are interested in the Bridgeton series, this covers some of the real events that happened during that time period.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
Yes, this is the life story of Queen Charlotte, King George III's wife. There were a lot of wonderful things and not so wonderful in her life. It is kind of ironic that when she was young and recently came to London she complained about being kept somewhat isolated and then turned around and did that to her own daughters. In fact, she kept them very close, didn't encourage them to participate in court life and very much discouraged them from getting married. The public made comments about the daughters being kept living like a nunnery.
The work was well researched and easily readable. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. I wish there had been more of a conclusion that talked a bit about her influence but overall a good biographer. For those who are interested in the Bridgeton series, this covers some of the real events that happened during that time period.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
September 14, 2025
2 stars
I think Queen Charlotte simply wasn’t a very interesting person.
I think Queen Charlotte simply wasn’t a very interesting person.
September 25, 2023
queen charlotte just really wasn’t that interesting
August 6, 2023
My Interest
Having been totally let down by my most anticipated book of the summer (which I even returned to get my Audible credit refunded…more later) I found this on the library’s e-audio books list. I haven’t watched Bridgerton, but I did, many years ago, read a book about the daughters of George III and Queen Charlotte. They had an astounding 15 children–all of whom survived birth and only 2 of whom died in childhood. Amazing.
The Story
This small book tells the story of Queen Charlotte, consort of George III and mother to his 15 children!! He insisted when they married they she only be in his company. No friends or relatives about. They were very happy and domestic, spending most of their time with their many children–keeping a closer eye on their brood than many future Kings and Queens would do.
Tragedy struck when George became menially unstable. Without a circle of friends, Charlotte kept her daughters at home with her, denying them the happiness of homes and husbands of their own. While the couples many sons lived lives of debaucher and entered into common law marriages with unsuitable women, Charlotte and her daughters lived in the “Windsor Nunnery.” Hence the enactment of the Royal Marriages Act that is still in force today.
When her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, had to become the Prince Regent, things became more tense. George III had gone through some vile patches in his illness, affecting his relationship with his loving wife. The problem of the succession was glaring. At the time of George III’s death, there was but one legitimate grandchild, fortunately the child of the Prince Regent. Princess Charlottes, who married Leopold (Uncle of both Victoria and Albert and who became King of Belgium). Charlotte, wildly popular, died in childbirth, setting the stage for near disaster for the British Crown.
My Thoughts
This book is what I’d call “pop history” or maybe, ala fashion, “fast history,” but that did not stop it being interesting.
I was surprised by how like Queen Charlotte her granddaughter Queen Victoria was–and not just in terms of fecundity! Also, how history repeats itself. There was one princess in love with a much older equerry! Here was Prince marrying a wildly unsuitable girl! There was a Spencer cropping up!
George and Charlotte made a warm, loving family–until George’s illness. They loved a quiet domestic life. In that I saw George V and his “May”–Queen Mary–albeit with George and Charlotte being loving parents. Parenting was not a strength either George V or May had, sadly. Queen Victoria loved marriage to her beloved Albert, but after his death she worked to keep at least her youngest daughter at home permanently–only finally allowing her to marry on the condition that they live with her. The Princes of course brought Edward VII to mind–all his womanizing. His wife, Queen Alexandra, also conspired to keep a daughter miserably at her side–this time it worked and poor Princess Victoria (‘Toria) never married. And, finally, “Prinny”–as the Prince Regent would be called, brought to mind Prince Andrew–for his mother’s love never wavered.
This is an easy read or a quick listen (about 5 hours) and doesn’t burden the reader with things like footnotes or citing sources.
Footnote: When today’s King Charles was christened, his Gan-Gan [Great-Grandmother] Queen Mary, gave him a silver cup and cover given by George III to a godson, thereby joining HER great-grandfather the King to her great-grandson the [future] King. Charles has spoken of his admiration for George III.
My Verdict
3.5
The Real Queen Charlotte by Catherine Curzon
Having been totally let down by my most anticipated book of the summer (which I even returned to get my Audible credit refunded…more later) I found this on the library’s e-audio books list. I haven’t watched Bridgerton, but I did, many years ago, read a book about the daughters of George III and Queen Charlotte. They had an astounding 15 children–all of whom survived birth and only 2 of whom died in childhood. Amazing.
The Story
This small book tells the story of Queen Charlotte, consort of George III and mother to his 15 children!! He insisted when they married they she only be in his company. No friends or relatives about. They were very happy and domestic, spending most of their time with their many children–keeping a closer eye on their brood than many future Kings and Queens would do.
Tragedy struck when George became menially unstable. Without a circle of friends, Charlotte kept her daughters at home with her, denying them the happiness of homes and husbands of their own. While the couples many sons lived lives of debaucher and entered into common law marriages with unsuitable women, Charlotte and her daughters lived in the “Windsor Nunnery.” Hence the enactment of the Royal Marriages Act that is still in force today.
When her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, had to become the Prince Regent, things became more tense. George III had gone through some vile patches in his illness, affecting his relationship with his loving wife. The problem of the succession was glaring. At the time of George III’s death, there was but one legitimate grandchild, fortunately the child of the Prince Regent. Princess Charlottes, who married Leopold (Uncle of both Victoria and Albert and who became King of Belgium). Charlotte, wildly popular, died in childbirth, setting the stage for near disaster for the British Crown.
My Thoughts
This book is what I’d call “pop history” or maybe, ala fashion, “fast history,” but that did not stop it being interesting.
I was surprised by how like Queen Charlotte her granddaughter Queen Victoria was–and not just in terms of fecundity! Also, how history repeats itself. There was one princess in love with a much older equerry! Here was Prince marrying a wildly unsuitable girl! There was a Spencer cropping up!
George and Charlotte made a warm, loving family–until George’s illness. They loved a quiet domestic life. In that I saw George V and his “May”–Queen Mary–albeit with George and Charlotte being loving parents. Parenting was not a strength either George V or May had, sadly. Queen Victoria loved marriage to her beloved Albert, but after his death she worked to keep at least her youngest daughter at home permanently–only finally allowing her to marry on the condition that they live with her. The Princes of course brought Edward VII to mind–all his womanizing. His wife, Queen Alexandra, also conspired to keep a daughter miserably at her side–this time it worked and poor Princess Victoria (‘Toria) never married. And, finally, “Prinny”–as the Prince Regent would be called, brought to mind Prince Andrew–for his mother’s love never wavered.
This is an easy read or a quick listen (about 5 hours) and doesn’t burden the reader with things like footnotes or citing sources.
Footnote: When today’s King Charles was christened, his Gan-Gan [Great-Grandmother] Queen Mary, gave him a silver cup and cover given by George III to a godson, thereby joining HER great-grandfather the King to her great-grandson the [future] King. Charles has spoken of his admiration for George III.
My Verdict
3.5
The Real Queen Charlotte by Catherine Curzon
May 7, 2023
3.5
This is a very short biography of Queen Charlotte married to mad King George III. If you just want to know some basics before watching the Netflix show this might work. I found this on Hoopla. I really did not know anything about her so any bit of knowledge was nice. After reading this I can see how you could make a show about her life so I am excited to watch it. She was not a very good mother but she had 15 children so I can see how things could be a little crazy with a crazy husband as well. George picked her out of a list of names of potential brides and said, that's the one!
This is a very short biography of Queen Charlotte married to mad King George III. If you just want to know some basics before watching the Netflix show this might work. I found this on Hoopla. I really did not know anything about her so any bit of knowledge was nice. After reading this I can see how you could make a show about her life so I am excited to watch it. She was not a very good mother but she had 15 children so I can see how things could be a little crazy with a crazy husband as well. George picked her out of a list of names of potential brides and said, that's the one!
June 2, 2024
Solid, if a bit dry, account of the life of Queen Charlotte.
July 9, 2023
I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
I really, really loved this book. It struck the perfect balance between situating Charlotte in the world around her and not losing focus that she is the central player. Curzon's writing style was really easy and inviting so as I was reading I didn't feel like facts were simply being flung in my direction. Curzon also did an excellent job of humanizing all of the figures in Charlotte's family without seeming to take sides in the arguments that Charlotte engaged in throughout her life and given that she was a Queen Consort in the Hanoverian Dynasty there were many.
My absolute favourite part of the book was the description of how Charlotte interacted with her daughters. Curzon did enough to make the daughters' characteristics clear and interesting without making you forget that the book was about their mother. I also think that in discussing Charlotte's relationship with her daughters Curzone really highlighted the strain that Charlotte must have been under in the situation that life presented her with. Having a husband with mental health issues at a time when it was not well understood must have been difficult enough, but the fact that he was a King with vast responsibilities did not make the situation any easier. Although, I can say that I do not agree with how Charlotte always behaved towards her daughters in particular, and her children more generally, Curzon did an excellent job of using the historical record to explain why Charlotte made the choices that she did.
The formatting of this book was very easy to follow and it helped to keep all of the main players distinct from one another, especially since there were two Charlottes and three Augustas. However, there were periods of time when it was unclear the sequence of events. I often felt that we would move forward in time and then backward. Overall this didn't necessarily detract from the story, but it did create a tiny bit of confusion for me in some instances when George III's illness was described.
Also, the foreshadowing language that things in Charlotte's life were going to get worse than what had been described got a little redundant for me. Given that her husband was George III I knew that going into the story that a happy ending wasn't necessarily in the cards, but having it repeated more than three times felt like a bit much.
That being said I found this to be a great historical biography for two reasons. One, I really feel that I learned who Queen Charlotte was as a person. That is not to say that Curzon provided a complete biographical description of every minute of Charlotte's life as that would be almost impossible for any single book to do, I felt that I understood Charlotte's upbringing and her marriage and how those two things wove together to create the Queen Consort and mother she became. The second reason I loved this book is that it made me desperate to learn more about the secondary characters in Charlotte's life as well as Charlotte herself. Cruzon did an excellent job of discussing Charlotte's daughters and the "Windsor Nunnery" and the Dowager Princess of Wales in a captivating way. Upon finishing this book I Googled books about these women to keep reading on the subject.
Whether you are interested in learning about Queen Charlotte for historical purposes or to better understand the woman who inspired the beloved Bridgerton character this book will not disappoint. Highly recommend.
I really, really loved this book. It struck the perfect balance between situating Charlotte in the world around her and not losing focus that she is the central player. Curzon's writing style was really easy and inviting so as I was reading I didn't feel like facts were simply being flung in my direction. Curzon also did an excellent job of humanizing all of the figures in Charlotte's family without seeming to take sides in the arguments that Charlotte engaged in throughout her life and given that she was a Queen Consort in the Hanoverian Dynasty there were many.
My absolute favourite part of the book was the description of how Charlotte interacted with her daughters. Curzon did enough to make the daughters' characteristics clear and interesting without making you forget that the book was about their mother. I also think that in discussing Charlotte's relationship with her daughters Curzone really highlighted the strain that Charlotte must have been under in the situation that life presented her with. Having a husband with mental health issues at a time when it was not well understood must have been difficult enough, but the fact that he was a King with vast responsibilities did not make the situation any easier. Although, I can say that I do not agree with how Charlotte always behaved towards her daughters in particular, and her children more generally, Curzon did an excellent job of using the historical record to explain why Charlotte made the choices that she did.
The formatting of this book was very easy to follow and it helped to keep all of the main players distinct from one another, especially since there were two Charlottes and three Augustas. However, there were periods of time when it was unclear the sequence of events. I often felt that we would move forward in time and then backward. Overall this didn't necessarily detract from the story, but it did create a tiny bit of confusion for me in some instances when George III's illness was described.
Also, the foreshadowing language that things in Charlotte's life were going to get worse than what had been described got a little redundant for me. Given that her husband was George III I knew that going into the story that a happy ending wasn't necessarily in the cards, but having it repeated more than three times felt like a bit much.
That being said I found this to be a great historical biography for two reasons. One, I really feel that I learned who Queen Charlotte was as a person. That is not to say that Curzon provided a complete biographical description of every minute of Charlotte's life as that would be almost impossible for any single book to do, I felt that I understood Charlotte's upbringing and her marriage and how those two things wove together to create the Queen Consort and mother she became. The second reason I loved this book is that it made me desperate to learn more about the secondary characters in Charlotte's life as well as Charlotte herself. Cruzon did an excellent job of discussing Charlotte's daughters and the "Windsor Nunnery" and the Dowager Princess of Wales in a captivating way. Upon finishing this book I Googled books about these women to keep reading on the subject.
Whether you are interested in learning about Queen Charlotte for historical purposes or to better understand the woman who inspired the beloved Bridgerton character this book will not disappoint. Highly recommend.
August 14, 2022
This book has been provided for free on NetGalley by the editor.
As shocking as this may sound, I’ve only watched one single episode of the Netflix saga “Bridgerton” before deciding this wasn’t a show for me. And yet, the short mention in the blurb of this book was, amongst other things, why I requested an ARC, the main two reasons being that I had never previously heard of Queen Charlotte and am, by nature, a very curious man.
It was very interesting, too, to delve into this woman’s story. Born into the royal Mecklenburg-Strelitz family in 1744, she grew up in that tiny and rather obscure duchy in northern Germany, one of those countless minor principalities of the rag rug that constituted the territories of the Holy Roman Empire before its inglorious end during the Napoleonic Wars. As a Protestant princess with no political weight whatsoever, she was deemed the perfect bride for king George III of Great Britain and of Ireland. They married in 1761 and in the first years led a perfectly happy and monogamous life—her husband was the rare example of a monarch not frolicking about with concubines and mistresses—which was graced with fifteen (!) children, thirteen of which should reach adulthood.
What should have been a tranquil river for the Queen consort, however, turned out to become a quite tumultuous reign. Not only did the French Revolution happen during that time, then the rise to power of Napoleon, his becoming emperor and fighting a nearly constant war in Europe for two decades, but her husband fell ill, too. A mental illness for which, back then, there was neither cure nor adequate treatment but what today we would consider imprisonment and regular sessions of torture of the sovereign.
Not an easy situation for a woman like Charlotte, who was always more interested in more etheral activities (arts, floriculture, and parks) than politics. As if that weren’t hard enough for her, her children turned out to be nothing like their sobre royal father, especially her sons, who rebelled against their upbringing by scandalous behaviour and liaisons.
Yes, Catherine Curzon’s book drew me in right from the start and remained a pleasant and interesting read all the way till the end. It was the right mix of historical data, well-researched explanations, with personal insights into the Queen’s character, her reactions, her feelings, as far as those can be narrated with accuracy. The book remained devoid of pedantic listings and details but was rich enough to paint a compelling picture of the times the Queen lived in and the characters involved. I don’t regret for a second having requested it and feel like I know more about Queen Charlotte now.
As shocking as this may sound, I’ve only watched one single episode of the Netflix saga “Bridgerton” before deciding this wasn’t a show for me. And yet, the short mention in the blurb of this book was, amongst other things, why I requested an ARC, the main two reasons being that I had never previously heard of Queen Charlotte and am, by nature, a very curious man.
It was very interesting, too, to delve into this woman’s story. Born into the royal Mecklenburg-Strelitz family in 1744, she grew up in that tiny and rather obscure duchy in northern Germany, one of those countless minor principalities of the rag rug that constituted the territories of the Holy Roman Empire before its inglorious end during the Napoleonic Wars. As a Protestant princess with no political weight whatsoever, she was deemed the perfect bride for king George III of Great Britain and of Ireland. They married in 1761 and in the first years led a perfectly happy and monogamous life—her husband was the rare example of a monarch not frolicking about with concubines and mistresses—which was graced with fifteen (!) children, thirteen of which should reach adulthood.
What should have been a tranquil river for the Queen consort, however, turned out to become a quite tumultuous reign. Not only did the French Revolution happen during that time, then the rise to power of Napoleon, his becoming emperor and fighting a nearly constant war in Europe for two decades, but her husband fell ill, too. A mental illness for which, back then, there was neither cure nor adequate treatment but what today we would consider imprisonment and regular sessions of torture of the sovereign.
Not an easy situation for a woman like Charlotte, who was always more interested in more etheral activities (arts, floriculture, and parks) than politics. As if that weren’t hard enough for her, her children turned out to be nothing like their sobre royal father, especially her sons, who rebelled against their upbringing by scandalous behaviour and liaisons.
Yes, Catherine Curzon’s book drew me in right from the start and remained a pleasant and interesting read all the way till the end. It was the right mix of historical data, well-researched explanations, with personal insights into the Queen’s character, her reactions, her feelings, as far as those can be narrated with accuracy. The book remained devoid of pedantic listings and details but was rich enough to paint a compelling picture of the times the Queen lived in and the characters involved. I don’t regret for a second having requested it and feel like I know more about Queen Charlotte now.
August 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!
The hook for this book was a comparison to the Queen Charlotte in the Bridgeton series, which of course caught my eye. I'm glad it did as I overall enjoyed this book and would give it 3.75 stars. It's perfect for someone who is interested in Charlotte as a person (and her extended family), but doesn't want to get bogged down into the political details occurring at this time, and don't want a monograph that's 700+ pages long.
Ironically, I actually read this ARC while on vacation in London, and traveled to many of the locations listed in this book (Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Kew Gardens, Westminster). It added some additional excitement to reading this book, so much that I would recommend to those who are visiting England.
Pros: This is a very approachable book for someone wanting to learn more about Queen Charlotte, British royal history, or 18th century England. Charlotte's life was long, and leads to many plot lines that are interesting, including how her children turned on her when they were grown. I especially enjoyed how Curzon focused on the changing of her relationship with her husband, which lead to many triumphs for their family, but also many heartaches as he spun into a mental health crisis.
Cons: I think the writing could have been a bit more flowing and not so choppy. It was very focused on "X happened, then Y happened, and this is how the person felt." More focus on human feelings and the connections between these events would have helped. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the subject and would look to pick up more reading by Catherine Curzon.
The hook for this book was a comparison to the Queen Charlotte in the Bridgeton series, which of course caught my eye. I'm glad it did as I overall enjoyed this book and would give it 3.75 stars. It's perfect for someone who is interested in Charlotte as a person (and her extended family), but doesn't want to get bogged down into the political details occurring at this time, and don't want a monograph that's 700+ pages long.
Ironically, I actually read this ARC while on vacation in London, and traveled to many of the locations listed in this book (Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Kew Gardens, Westminster). It added some additional excitement to reading this book, so much that I would recommend to those who are visiting England.
Pros: This is a very approachable book for someone wanting to learn more about Queen Charlotte, British royal history, or 18th century England. Charlotte's life was long, and leads to many plot lines that are interesting, including how her children turned on her when they were grown. I especially enjoyed how Curzon focused on the changing of her relationship with her husband, which lead to many triumphs for their family, but also many heartaches as he spun into a mental health crisis.
Cons: I think the writing could have been a bit more flowing and not so choppy. It was very focused on "X happened, then Y happened, and this is how the person felt." More focus on human feelings and the connections between these events would have helped. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the subject and would look to pick up more reading by Catherine Curzon.
Read
August 29, 2022My thanks to Pen & Sword Books for granting my wish for ‘The Real Queen Charlotte: Inside the Real Bridgerton Court’ by Catherine Curzon.
The author is a historian specialising in the 18th Century and the author of a number of popular books on the Georgian royals. Her latest is a biography of Queen Charlotte, whose fictional counterpart plays a pivotal role in ‘Bridgerton’, the highly popular Netflix series set during the reign of George III.
When only seventeen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was chosen to be the bride of King George III. While it began as an arranged marriage, the shy princess and the young king were well matched. They were married for nearly sixty years and were parents to fifteen children. Yet political issues, social unrest, wars, and the king’s health including his madness all took their toll.
I found this a straightforward, concise, and accessible biography that focused on Charlotte’s relationships with her husband and children as well as detailed her long reign as Queen Consort.
As is usual with Pen & Sword titles the book contained notes, a bibliography, and an index. However, I would have enjoyed a section that compared and contrasted the real Queen Charlotte with her Bridgerton character.
The author is a historian specialising in the 18th Century and the author of a number of popular books on the Georgian royals. Her latest is a biography of Queen Charlotte, whose fictional counterpart plays a pivotal role in ‘Bridgerton’, the highly popular Netflix series set during the reign of George III.
When only seventeen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was chosen to be the bride of King George III. While it began as an arranged marriage, the shy princess and the young king were well matched. They were married for nearly sixty years and were parents to fifteen children. Yet political issues, social unrest, wars, and the king’s health including his madness all took their toll.
I found this a straightforward, concise, and accessible biography that focused on Charlotte’s relationships with her husband and children as well as detailed her long reign as Queen Consort.
As is usual with Pen & Sword titles the book contained notes, a bibliography, and an index. However, I would have enjoyed a section that compared and contrasted the real Queen Charlotte with her Bridgerton character.
April 12, 2023
What made Charlotte so remarkable was the very fact that she wasn't remarkable at all. Unambitious, and aspiring only to a happy home ...
Perfect if you want a short, "highlights reel" overview of the life of Queen Charlotte, wife of "mad King George III." The key here is this is a brief introduction (of around 180 pages of text and 20 pages of footnotes etc) and not an in-depth biography. I recommend for those who know nothing about the Queen as this is a good start.
Throughout his formative year, George III had been taught by Augusta, George II and Bute to be suspicious of anyone who seemed to seek his favour. He imparted these same suspicions to his bride, shaping her just as he had been shaped. In the years to come, she came to view the whole world with suspicion ... It was a risky strategy and, once George feel ill, one that left Charlotte poorly prepared for the challenges that she faced."
Charlotte had been married at 17 was led to adulthood, first by the guidance of her husband and then by his madness:
She had been steadfast beside her husband, endured his insults and his attacks, both physical and psychological, until the man she loved has all but disappeared, his personality changed beyond recognition. She in turn had lost her carefree optimism and her love of life, and had developed a suspicious nature and a domineering temper.
While author tries to make Q Charlotte somewhat appealing, due to the short nature of the work IMHO she is not successful. How she treated her daughters is appalling!
Two things would improve this work
1. Author says over and over what a 'hot temper' Queen Charlotte without ever giving an example. A strong worded letter is not proof.
2. She kind of jumps around in time so talking about 1788 and then back to 1769. Unfortunately, I as the reader really know nothing so these time jumps were very confusing.
Perfect if you want a short, "highlights reel" overview of the life of Queen Charlotte, wife of "mad King George III." The key here is this is a brief introduction (of around 180 pages of text and 20 pages of footnotes etc) and not an in-depth biography. I recommend for those who know nothing about the Queen as this is a good start.
Throughout his formative year, George III had been taught by Augusta, George II and Bute to be suspicious of anyone who seemed to seek his favour. He imparted these same suspicions to his bride, shaping her just as he had been shaped. In the years to come, she came to view the whole world with suspicion ... It was a risky strategy and, once George feel ill, one that left Charlotte poorly prepared for the challenges that she faced."
Charlotte had been married at 17 was led to adulthood, first by the guidance of her husband and then by his madness:
She had been steadfast beside her husband, endured his insults and his attacks, both physical and psychological, until the man she loved has all but disappeared, his personality changed beyond recognition. She in turn had lost her carefree optimism and her love of life, and had developed a suspicious nature and a domineering temper.
While author tries to make Q Charlotte somewhat appealing, due to the short nature of the work IMHO she is not successful. How she treated her daughters is appalling!
Two things would improve this work
1. Author says over and over what a 'hot temper' Queen Charlotte without ever giving an example. A strong worded letter is not proof.
2. She kind of jumps around in time so talking about 1788 and then back to 1769. Unfortunately, I as the reader really know nothing so these time jumps were very confusing.
August 28, 2023
It is lovely to find a concise biography based on the turbulent life of Queen Charlotte who has recently become popular thanks to her role in the Bridgerton series. I learned a lot about Charlotte's life before she became Queen and I found a new appreciation for the challenges she faced during her husband's illnesses.
The book was a refreshing and utterly unbiased read and it is clear that the author knows her subject well. As the book is only 145 pages it is not the most detailed biography of Queen Charlotte however I think that it is well worth a read, especially for those who do not have much knowledge about the Regency era.
The book was a refreshing and utterly unbiased read and it is clear that the author knows her subject well. As the book is only 145 pages it is not the most detailed biography of Queen Charlotte however I think that it is well worth a read, especially for those who do not have much knowledge about the Regency era.
May 27, 2024
Being schooled in the 60s, I believed King George III was a tyrant - because our country fought to be rid of him and England. In the past years I realize he did what he could and was actually a role model for other regents - except for his mental health battle. But what of his wife?
This is a well researched biography of the humble bride who was forced by life to be strong and self reliant. I enjoyed immensely reading of her personality - she sang while her husband played the violin (try that today). I watched her grow - and it was painful - as her older sons went astray and her daughters fought for their freedom, but especially as she watched her husband's mind decay.
This is a well researched biography of the humble bride who was forced by life to be strong and self reliant. I enjoyed immensely reading of her personality - she sang while her husband played the violin (try that today). I watched her grow - and it was painful - as her older sons went astray and her daughters fought for their freedom, but especially as she watched her husband's mind decay.
September 9, 2022
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
I found this to be a good bite-sized introduction to Queen Charlotte.
The book doesn’t go into exacting detail, but this does make it good for those looking into an introduction to the time period and to reading history books.
For myself I did find it a bit too simple, but I would definitely recommend it to those who are just starting to read history books/just want a general overview of the time period and Queen Charlotte.
Thank you so much to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
I found this to be a good bite-sized introduction to Queen Charlotte.
The book doesn’t go into exacting detail, but this does make it good for those looking into an introduction to the time period and to reading history books.
For myself I did find it a bit too simple, but I would definitely recommend it to those who are just starting to read history books/just want a general overview of the time period and Queen Charlotte.
December 3, 2022
9An interesting (albeit too succint) biography of Queen Charotte from her place as the second daughter of an obscur German duke to her role as Queen consort of George III and the most formidable matriarch of the Hanoverian monarchs of Great Britain.
Catherine Curzon manages to give us a brilliant portrait of Charlotte but I was left hungry for more. A more substantial biography has been long overdue but in the meantime Ms. Curzon's work remains a very accomplished introduction to one of England’s longest serving consorts.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this great ARC
Catherine Curzon manages to give us a brilliant portrait of Charlotte but I was left hungry for more. A more substantial biography has been long overdue but in the meantime Ms. Curzon's work remains a very accomplished introduction to one of England’s longest serving consorts.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this great ARC
August 22, 2022
Having read and heard only a little about Queen Charlotte before ever reading or watching Netflix's Bridgertons, I was interested in finding out more about the real woman. Curzon gives a good account of Charlotte's life as queen of Britain, a life which definitely wasn't all gowns and balls.
The writing was easy to follow, because it wasn't info-dumps and big chunks of facts. Facts and information was woven nicely into the story of Queen Charlotte's life.
The writing was easy to follow, because it wasn't info-dumps and big chunks of facts. Facts and information was woven nicely into the story of Queen Charlotte's life.
December 11, 2024
It was interesting to learn about this queen and her life. She was a very interesting person. I can't believe she had 15 children! It was also sweet how devoted she and her husband were to each other. And it was also nice how her oldest wayward son ended up being quite devoted to his mother. At times, the book got a little dry, but not too much. The hardest part was keeping track of who was who as the names were very similar, and sometimes, they went by their titles.
May 20, 2023
Good book about Queen Charlotte
I found this book because of Bridgerton. This is a very well researched book about the reign of Queen Charlotte. It is based upon a lot of original sources. This book is very informative and I learned a lot. It is very short and readable. It is a good narratives and a good ebook.
I found this book because of Bridgerton. This is a very well researched book about the reign of Queen Charlotte. It is based upon a lot of original sources. This book is very informative and I learned a lot. It is very short and readable. It is a good narratives and a good ebook.
July 7, 2023
I came to this book thanks to the superb performances by the cast of Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story. I wanted to know more about the real people behind the story and it has been an extraordinary read because it is written to cater to a wide public. Totally worth it if you want to know more about Queen Charlotte and her lot.
October 31, 2023
Wow 15 kids and they ruled the entire time wo letting the Whigs aka the Prince of Whales taking over. I feel bad for her daughters that were made to be spinsters especially the youngest one who ended up dying before she could marry the mans she fancied. The exotic animals gifts of a zebra and kangaroos where an interesting choice...could be why their marriage and rule was successful.
April 26, 2025
DNF - this was written like a high school historical textbook. Didn’t make any of it interesting or add any dynamic information to pull the reader in. Boring, boring, boring.
I love reading historical nonfiction - but it has to be written with a little more zest. This felt like watching paint dry.
I love reading historical nonfiction - but it has to be written with a little more zest. This felt like watching paint dry.
December 10, 2025
So amazing, goes in depth into QC’s life from start to finish, and makes you feel as if you know the people in Queen Charlottes life personally! :)
I was so so sad to finish this book
Only thing I would say is the author seemed to repeat things along the line of “However, they had no idea what was coming next…” and that would never end up leading anywhere. Show don’t tell!
I was so so sad to finish this book
Only thing I would say is the author seemed to repeat things along the line of “However, they had no idea what was coming next…” and that would never end up leading anywhere. Show don’t tell!
September 13, 2022
A wonderful and in depth look at a woman lost to a world history that focuses so much on her husband and her sons. While those interested in history know that Queen Charlotte wasn’t the social leader she’s portrayed as in Bridgerton, it’s still nice to have the spotlight on Charlotte for once.
September 29, 2023
Informative
An interesting and informative history of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III (the mad king), and how their union and his later illness affected world history, as well as how world events affected the king and queen.
An interesting and informative history of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III (the mad king), and how their union and his later illness affected world history, as well as how world events affected the king and queen.
June 12, 2024
Easy and enjoyable. However, I noticed several poorly written parts that said more about the editorial team than perhaps the author. That said, it did cause me to distrust the credibility and authority of the research. All in all, if you like this kind of non-fiction, give it a read!
Read
December 12, 2025Not surprised by some of the reviews for this book. I'm sure people came for more Bridgerton-style drama. But that's just it... the show is a drama loosely based on facts, while this is a biography. Well written, informative, and interesting. Will definitely be reading more by Catherine Curzon.
November 26, 2022
A bit of a dull read. Felt like everything covered here has already been done before and not sure I learned anything new about George III's queen.
February 1, 2023
Short and sweet - telling the life of a little know queen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews