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Charlotte & Leopold: The True Story of The Original People's Princess
The tragic story of the doomed romance between Charlotte, heir to the English throne, and Leopold, uncle of Queen Victoria and first King of the Belgians. A story that Jane Austen famously declined to tell, “I could no more write a romance than an epic poem.” Charlotte was the only legitimate royal child of her generation, and her death in childbirth resulted in a public outpouring of grief the like of which was not to be seen again until the death of Diana, over 150 years later. Charlotte’s death was followed by an unseemly scramble to produce a substitute heir. Queen Victoria was the product. James Chambers masterfully demonstrates how the personal and the political inevitably collide in scheming post-Napoleonic Europe, offering a vivid and sympathetic portrait of a couple whose lives are in many ways not their own. From the day she was born, Charlotte won the hearts of her subjects and yet, behind the scenes, she was used, abused, and victimized by rivalries—between her parents; between her father (the Prince Regent, later King George IV) and (Mad) King George III; between her tutors, governesses, and other members of her discordant household; and ultimately between the Whig opposition and the Tory government. Set in one of the most glamorous eras of British history, against the background of a famously dysfunctional royal family, Charlotte & The True Story of The Original People’s Princess is an accessible, moving, funny, and entertaining royal biography with alluring contemporary resonance. James Chambers is a professional historian and author of many books on British and colonial history, including The Daily Telegraph History of the British Empire , which sold over 250,000 copies. He has also written extensively for television and made countless BBC TV and radio appearances.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2007
125 people are currently reading
3415 people want to read
About the author
James Chambers
211 books17 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
January 3, 2016
ETA: I have to add something about the humor in this book...... Both the disgusting antics of the parent and the moral depravity of the era is expressed through innuendos, irony and sarcasm. So yes there is humor in the lines; we can either laugh or cry.
This book is primarily about Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796 – 1817). She was the only child of George, Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV. Her mother was Caroline of Brunswick. Had she not died in childbirth at the age of 21, she would have become Queen of the United Kingdom. The book is about her troubled youth, her estranged mother and father and how she came to be married to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the first king of Belgium.
Charlotte's parents were constantly bickering, having affairs and using their daughter as a means of hurting each other. Her parents were hated by the English people. She was loved. One thing this book clearly demonstrates is the extent to which adulterous behavior, scandals and gossip infused royalty and the beginning of the 1800s. Had Charlotte not died, Queen Victoria would never have become Queen. The change in tone that Queen Victoria ushered in can only be understood if one is aware of what came before.
There is very little about Leopold I or II . For the latter I can recommend King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa.
The book gives a good feel of those times and of who Charlotte was. Why she was who she was, and what she had to put up with!
The book zips through all the other members of the family and how Queen Victoria came to power. Zip is the word I want to emphasize. You get rapid summaries of the family tree and events. This is not in-depth and for my taste was way to superficial, but then this book is short and is primarily about Charlotte. I did love learning about her.
The narration by Jilly Bond was NOT to my liking. Charlotte sounds like a baby. All the voices were too exaggerated. Please, just read the text; I don't need all the dramatics! The speed with which the lines are read is rapid.
This book is primarily about Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796 – 1817). She was the only child of George, Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV. Her mother was Caroline of Brunswick. Had she not died in childbirth at the age of 21, she would have become Queen of the United Kingdom. The book is about her troubled youth, her estranged mother and father and how she came to be married to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the first king of Belgium.
Charlotte's parents were constantly bickering, having affairs and using their daughter as a means of hurting each other. Her parents were hated by the English people. She was loved. One thing this book clearly demonstrates is the extent to which adulterous behavior, scandals and gossip infused royalty and the beginning of the 1800s. Had Charlotte not died, Queen Victoria would never have become Queen. The change in tone that Queen Victoria ushered in can only be understood if one is aware of what came before.
There is very little about Leopold I or II . For the latter I can recommend King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa.
The book gives a good feel of those times and of who Charlotte was. Why she was who she was, and what she had to put up with!
The book zips through all the other members of the family and how Queen Victoria came to power. Zip is the word I want to emphasize. You get rapid summaries of the family tree and events. This is not in-depth and for my taste was way to superficial, but then this book is short and is primarily about Charlotte. I did love learning about her.
The narration by Jilly Bond was NOT to my liking. Charlotte sounds like a baby. All the voices were too exaggerated. Please, just read the text; I don't need all the dramatics! The speed with which the lines are read is rapid.
April 2, 2017
After watching the mini series on PBS, Victoria, my curiosity peeked about Princess Charlotte so I picked this book up. Chambers gives political and historical facts of the era, as well as the love and loss of Charlotte and Leopold. Anyone interested in English royalty will like this one.
January 4, 2010
Charlotte and Leopold by James Chambers is primarily a biography of Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of (the future) King George IV, who would have succeeded her father as Queen. Charlotte has been but a footnote in everything I have read about Queen Victoria and her family. Charlotte's death in childbirth caused a scramble for a legitimate grandchild of George III and Victoria won the prize. After reading this book, Charlotte is no longer a mere footnote, but a genuine person to me. This biography is not long (232 pages), but neither was Charlotte's life (21 years). The author used a number of primary resources including letters Charlotte had written to her best friend. I'm glad the author included excerpts from these letters as they helped to understand what Charlotte was like. I very much liked Charlotte and Leopold as a couple and I think they would have made a wonderful Queen and Prince Consort. (Charlotte's husband, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, was the uncle of Victoria and Albert and went on to become the first king of Belgium.)
The book assumes the reader knows Charlotte's final fate and starts off with a description of her doctor's fate. Charlotte's botched prenatal care and delivery are truly one of the great tragedies in royal history. The doctor later committed suicide. Interestingly, even though Leopold eventually married (15 years after Charlotte's death) and had four children, before he died he requested to be buried with Charlotte (Queen Victoria agreed, but the Belgian government denied his request) and his last words were "Charlotte...Charlotte..." (48 years after her death). Queen Victoria started me off on my study of royal history, so I am glad to have some of the blanks regarding Charlotte filled in.
The book assumes the reader knows Charlotte's final fate and starts off with a description of her doctor's fate. Charlotte's botched prenatal care and delivery are truly one of the great tragedies in royal history. The doctor later committed suicide. Interestingly, even though Leopold eventually married (15 years after Charlotte's death) and had four children, before he died he requested to be buried with Charlotte (Queen Victoria agreed, but the Belgian government denied his request) and his last words were "Charlotte...Charlotte..." (48 years after her death). Queen Victoria started me off on my study of royal history, so I am glad to have some of the blanks regarding Charlotte filled in.
March 9, 2015
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2013
As much as Cleopatra and Anthony plodded, this book sped with undeniable force towards death and depression.
Sometimes in history, I wish I could do alternate endings, because the truth is so tragic. Anne Boleyn would have married Henry Percy and died an obscure northern lady. Rasputin would have been found out, and the Czarina would have shut up. And Charlotte, daughter of two parents that neither loved each other nor were particularly fond of her, would have lived happily ever after with her Prince Charming.
Unfortunately, history does not much care what the audience thinks.
This book is told with force and just good old-fashioned story-telling. Charlotte is sympathetic even if naive and tragic. She's the ultimate example of what happens when parents marry for the wrong reasons and see their offspring less like a child and more as a weapon. It's really amazing, though admittedly given only this bias account, that she didn't turn out to be just horrible.
Instead she marries to escape her father's rules, finds love...and then dies a little over a year later. Sad enough, but when you're the heiress to the crown of England and the only legitimate grandchild of the mad king, it's just a bit more tragic.
Let's face it, it would take a far less talented writer to make this book really crappy--the story is just too good. Thankfully, Chambers steps back, allows Charlotte to take center stage, and lets the story tell itself.
Is this mind-blowing, world-view-altering non-fiction? No. But it's a good reminder that some of the best and most-powerful stories actually happened.
Sometimes in history, I wish I could do alternate endings, because the truth is so tragic. Anne Boleyn would have married Henry Percy and died an obscure northern lady. Rasputin would have been found out, and the Czarina would have shut up. And Charlotte, daughter of two parents that neither loved each other nor were particularly fond of her, would have lived happily ever after with her Prince Charming.
Unfortunately, history does not much care what the audience thinks.
This book is told with force and just good old-fashioned story-telling. Charlotte is sympathetic even if naive and tragic. She's the ultimate example of what happens when parents marry for the wrong reasons and see their offspring less like a child and more as a weapon. It's really amazing, though admittedly given only this bias account, that she didn't turn out to be just horrible.
Instead she marries to escape her father's rules, finds love...and then dies a little over a year later. Sad enough, but when you're the heiress to the crown of England and the only legitimate grandchild of the mad king, it's just a bit more tragic.
Let's face it, it would take a far less talented writer to make this book really crappy--the story is just too good. Thankfully, Chambers steps back, allows Charlotte to take center stage, and lets the story tell itself.
Is this mind-blowing, world-view-altering non-fiction? No. But it's a good reminder that some of the best and most-powerful stories actually happened.
May 2, 2010
The story of Princess Charlotte of Wales - daughter of the future George IV and his estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick - is sometimes beautiful, sometimes entertaining, mostly tragic, but always interesting. The child of parents who were constantly at war with each other, she grew up lonely but as an intelligent, witty, strong (and stubborn) girl.
This book is mainly about her - her future husband, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, only appears when they meet, there's one small chapter dedicated to his childhood and youth and after Charlotte's death there's an overview of his life as King of Belgium and his relationship with his niece, Queen Victoria. It's a very easy read, Chambers' style of writing is great: it flows without being novel-ish, and he gives the story touches of sarcasm which makes it all more interesting. The story is told mostly through Charlotte's words and she comes out as a real person - it's impossible not to understand why the people of England loved her so much, she was sweet, funny and a strong-minded young woman. All moments of Charlotte's life are dealt with in depth - her relationship with her parents and family, as well as with her best friend Mercer Elphinstone and her suitors before Leopold, her political views and her marriage with Leopold.
My only problem is the lack of references. That really, really bothers me, but otherwise the book is great.
This book is mainly about her - her future husband, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, only appears when they meet, there's one small chapter dedicated to his childhood and youth and after Charlotte's death there's an overview of his life as King of Belgium and his relationship with his niece, Queen Victoria. It's a very easy read, Chambers' style of writing is great: it flows without being novel-ish, and he gives the story touches of sarcasm which makes it all more interesting. The story is told mostly through Charlotte's words and she comes out as a real person - it's impossible not to understand why the people of England loved her so much, she was sweet, funny and a strong-minded young woman. All moments of Charlotte's life are dealt with in depth - her relationship with her parents and family, as well as with her best friend Mercer Elphinstone and her suitors before Leopold, her political views and her marriage with Leopold.
My only problem is the lack of references. That really, really bothers me, but otherwise the book is great.
June 30, 2012
frothy, shallow, a little bit bitchy, and completely irrelevant fun. I devoured the whole book. I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of Regency history, but I couldn't resist this poor, loud, obnoxious princess alienated from her god-awful parents, loved by the public, and rescued by Prince Leopold - and then she tragically DIES. What a story! Chambers as a writer leaves lots to be desired, but the story overshadows his bad writing. The Prince Regent / George IV was ghastly, that's for sure. I'm interested in reading about all of those scandalous sisters now too. The family of George III were all rakes and reprobates - it's no wonder everyone started out afraid of Queen Victoria. With such an rough start, and surrounded by the worst examples, I wonder how she turned into such a strong monarch? The what if game: What if Charlotte had lived to be queen? A Charlottians vs. the Victorians. I wonder what the world would be like now?
May 9, 2020
This is a shorter biography of Charlotte and Leopold, but it hits all of the major needed points. Charlotte is always given one sentence before being led into Queen Victoria, and Leopold is known largely just as Victoria's uncle- it's lovely to finally "meet" them on their own terms. I personally would have preferred slightly more depth and discussion, but the Hanoverians at this period can be very confusing if you go too deep. This is a fantastic introduction to both Charlotte and Leopold, and a needed primer for anyone interested in the late Georgians/Victorians.
October 4, 2012
Although very popular in her day, poor Princess Charlotte has become little more than a footnote in history. She was, at the time of her death, the only legitimate grandchild to be produced from the large family of King George III. Unfortunately for her, she died in childbirth after finally having found marital bliss with Price Leopold. It was her death that caused the almost undignified rush for wives among her uncles which resulted in the birth of the future Queen Victoria.
I have read extensively on the royal family, including the royal cast of characters that appear in this book, but I knew very little about Charlotte herself. I had not realized that she had had quite such an unhappy life. I didn't know just how little both of her parents had cared for her, each using her as a pawn in their quest to gain advantage over the other. I also found Charlotte herself to be a very sympathetic person- perhaps a little rough around the edges, but very lovable, and surprisingly well-adjusted despite her zany childhood. I also didn't realize that her marriage with Leopold had blossomed into a genuine romance, strong enough that no other woman would compare to her in Leopold's life.
All in all, a decent biography. I would recommend it to anyone else who, like me, likes to know a bit more about those forgotten 'footnotes' in the Royal family and British history. It also contains many references to important events that were unfolding, so it gave me an idea to what else was happening in Charlotte's world.
I have read extensively on the royal family, including the royal cast of characters that appear in this book, but I knew very little about Charlotte herself. I had not realized that she had had quite such an unhappy life. I didn't know just how little both of her parents had cared for her, each using her as a pawn in their quest to gain advantage over the other. I also found Charlotte herself to be a very sympathetic person- perhaps a little rough around the edges, but very lovable, and surprisingly well-adjusted despite her zany childhood. I also didn't realize that her marriage with Leopold had blossomed into a genuine romance, strong enough that no other woman would compare to her in Leopold's life.
All in all, a decent biography. I would recommend it to anyone else who, like me, likes to know a bit more about those forgotten 'footnotes' in the Royal family and British history. It also contains many references to important events that were unfolding, so it gave me an idea to what else was happening in Charlotte's world.
August 14, 2014
3.5 review to follow.
November 22, 2016
[Warning: Some spoilers are contained in the review below]:
Having read past books on the history of the English monarchy, I had a previous knowledge of Princess Charlotte, the granddaughter of Mad King George III, who had the dubious distinction of having lost the American colonies during his reign of England. Part of my background understanding of Princess Charlotte, the 'original People's Princess', was that she was perhaps the most beloved royal prior to Princess Diana. Certainly, she was not as flawed as the latter which may have helped her to retain and unblemished love by the public during and after her lifetime.
James Chambers' biographical book does not uncover any major details that have not already been uncovered by previous biographers, but what it does offer is an intimate look at the reasons for the love and loyalty that she was able to sustain throughout her life by anyone who came into contact with her as well as the general as a whole. Chambers devotes more than half of his book to Charlotte alone, describing the underhanded ways her dysfunctional, ambitious, jealous parents used her as a pawn in their infamous feud. Through it all, Charlotte retained a buoyancy and exuberance that must have been something to behold. Her down-to-earth manner only endeared her to the public, shocked and shamed by the unseemly nature of both her parents. Prince Leopold, despite his ambitions, was not immune to Charlotte's charms. It's a well documented fact that both were devoted to each other over the span of the short time fate allowed them.
One is left to wonder what might have been had Charlotte had the chance to rule as England's Queen. Because fate intervened, the path was made for her cousin, the famous Queen Victoria. Ironically enough, it was Leopold who, following the death of his wife and son, orchestrated the marriage that produced Victoria (arranging from behind the scenes the marriage between his sister to Charlotte's uncle, the Duke of Kent). History informs us that it was Leopold who stepped into the guiding role that Victoria's absent father vacated, showing further influence by laying the ground work for the relationship between his nephew, the future Prince Albert, and Victoria.
Charlotte & Leopold is a love story for the ages. Chambers does an admirable job getting to know his subjects, painting them with a brush that is not too broad as to make them inhuman. After reading Charlotte & Leopold, you'll understand why Charlotte is deserving of the title of 'The Original People's Princess'.
Having read past books on the history of the English monarchy, I had a previous knowledge of Princess Charlotte, the granddaughter of Mad King George III, who had the dubious distinction of having lost the American colonies during his reign of England. Part of my background understanding of Princess Charlotte, the 'original People's Princess', was that she was perhaps the most beloved royal prior to Princess Diana. Certainly, she was not as flawed as the latter which may have helped her to retain and unblemished love by the public during and after her lifetime.
James Chambers' biographical book does not uncover any major details that have not already been uncovered by previous biographers, but what it does offer is an intimate look at the reasons for the love and loyalty that she was able to sustain throughout her life by anyone who came into contact with her as well as the general as a whole. Chambers devotes more than half of his book to Charlotte alone, describing the underhanded ways her dysfunctional, ambitious, jealous parents used her as a pawn in their infamous feud. Through it all, Charlotte retained a buoyancy and exuberance that must have been something to behold. Her down-to-earth manner only endeared her to the public, shocked and shamed by the unseemly nature of both her parents. Prince Leopold, despite his ambitions, was not immune to Charlotte's charms. It's a well documented fact that both were devoted to each other over the span of the short time fate allowed them.
One is left to wonder what might have been had Charlotte had the chance to rule as England's Queen. Because fate intervened, the path was made for her cousin, the famous Queen Victoria. Ironically enough, it was Leopold who, following the death of his wife and son, orchestrated the marriage that produced Victoria (arranging from behind the scenes the marriage between his sister to Charlotte's uncle, the Duke of Kent). History informs us that it was Leopold who stepped into the guiding role that Victoria's absent father vacated, showing further influence by laying the ground work for the relationship between his nephew, the future Prince Albert, and Victoria.
Charlotte & Leopold is a love story for the ages. Chambers does an admirable job getting to know his subjects, painting them with a brush that is not too broad as to make them inhuman. After reading Charlotte & Leopold, you'll understand why Charlotte is deserving of the title of 'The Original People's Princess'.
October 26, 2025
A very straightforward account of a time that tends to be forgotten or treated as a jokey interregnum between the titanic reigns of George III and Victoria. If this book does one thing particularly well, it is laying out the case that, had Princess Charlotte lived, the entire history of the British Empire might never have dovetailed with the adjective "Victorian"...and that is one hell of a what-if turning point in history.
December 18, 2014
An interesting biography mainly about Charlotte Princess of Wales, the daughter of the future King George IV & (during her lifetime) the only legitimate Grandchild(among apparently dozens) of King George III. A member of the British Royal family you hear very little about, even though if not for her tragic death in childbirth at the age of 21, she would have become Queen of the United Kingdom. Her death then started a race between King George III's many children to produce a new heir. A race that was eventually "won" by his fourth son Prince Edward Duke of Kent, with the birth of the future Queen Victoria
June 21, 2014
A very readable, well researched historical account. There seemed to be a huge cast of charcters which caused some confusion on my part. It seemed like it was a hard to get a sense of the actual personalities of either Charlotte or Leopold but enjoyable and informative.
I would read more books by this author.
I would read more books by this author.
February 9, 2010
It was a pretty good book. I love historical fiction, and though this is non-fiction, it still has that feel that I love. I learned a lot about the time period and the royal family. Would recommend it to history buffs.
October 20, 2013
I'm not sure why people gave this book lower than a 4 (obviously assuming the author got his historical facts right), it's well written, easy to ready, not overly laden with facts and details.
May 14, 2013
A great introductory read to a couple that I knew very little about. The writing was clear and simple without being dull and covered important events in details without being excessive.
November 29, 2015
Her life is just unbelievable to me. At first I thought the book was coming across kinda dry but it picked up and kept my interest through the end.
September 15, 2015
Spoiler: Charlotte dies at 21, so it's not that long of a story. I enjoyed all of the first person source material from her surviving letters, but overall found it kind of meh.
April 22, 2018
This was a good, fast read I was happy to pick up this afternoon when trying to figure out what to read next.
Charlotte & Leopold tells the story of Princess Charlotte of Wales (and eventually of her husband, Leopold I of Belgium.
Chambers takes us on a journey through Charlotte's life, starting with her parents' marriage, carrying through beyond her death.
Unfortunately, Charlotte's parents (Caroline of Brunswick and the future King George IV) didn't have the greatest marriage - an extreme understatement - and they used their only child as a pawn when they attempted to undermine one another at every twist and turn. Charlotte lived a secluded life, very much thanks to her father's machinations. Interestingly, it was rather reminiscent of the way Leopold would treat his niece, the future Queen Victoria, in the future.
But while Princess Charlotte had to deal with a lot of familial nonsense and manipulation, she's shown to be a strong-minded young woman. Realistically, she did not get her way much of the time, but she did manage to make strong statements when refusing some of her father's marriage plans for her.
Leopold comes into the story much later, and at the time was merely Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). I've found Leopold is almost always painted in an atrocious light because of how he seemingly manhandled the future Queen Victoria. While that depiction of him may be honest and true, I really appreciated getting to learn more about the younger, married Leopold. He wasn't faithful and he was ambitious, yet he cared deeply for Charlotte.
He felt more like a real person than the evil plotter we usually see (perhaps understandably, since Queen Victoria is the more famous figure).
This book is quite short, but I enjoyed how easily it flowed, and how much detail it contained. There are excerpts from letters, and plenty of important people in Charlotte's life are included, not merely as cursory characters.
I'm not the type to dwell on the 'what ifs' in history, but it is interesting to consider Charlotte's story when keeping in mind she was set to potentially become Queen of England before she passed after childbirth.
If you're looking for a fast yet fascinating read about historical figures we hear about but never seem to focus on for very long, then I do recommend picking up Charlotte & Leopold if you get the chance.
Charlotte & Leopold tells the story of Princess Charlotte of Wales (and eventually of her husband, Leopold I of Belgium.
Chambers takes us on a journey through Charlotte's life, starting with her parents' marriage, carrying through beyond her death.
Unfortunately, Charlotte's parents (Caroline of Brunswick and the future King George IV) didn't have the greatest marriage - an extreme understatement - and they used their only child as a pawn when they attempted to undermine one another at every twist and turn. Charlotte lived a secluded life, very much thanks to her father's machinations. Interestingly, it was rather reminiscent of the way Leopold would treat his niece, the future Queen Victoria, in the future.
But while Princess Charlotte had to deal with a lot of familial nonsense and manipulation, she's shown to be a strong-minded young woman. Realistically, she did not get her way much of the time, but she did manage to make strong statements when refusing some of her father's marriage plans for her.
Leopold comes into the story much later, and at the time was merely Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). I've found Leopold is almost always painted in an atrocious light because of how he seemingly manhandled the future Queen Victoria. While that depiction of him may be honest and true, I really appreciated getting to learn more about the younger, married Leopold. He wasn't faithful and he was ambitious, yet he cared deeply for Charlotte.
He felt more like a real person than the evil plotter we usually see (perhaps understandably, since Queen Victoria is the more famous figure).
This book is quite short, but I enjoyed how easily it flowed, and how much detail it contained. There are excerpts from letters, and plenty of important people in Charlotte's life are included, not merely as cursory characters.
I'm not the type to dwell on the 'what ifs' in history, but it is interesting to consider Charlotte's story when keeping in mind she was set to potentially become Queen of England before she passed after childbirth.
If you're looking for a fast yet fascinating read about historical figures we hear about but never seem to focus on for very long, then I do recommend picking up Charlotte & Leopold if you get the chance.
February 18, 2018
"OK" is the perfect summation for this book. It is quite short and just isn't a whole lot to sink your teeth in. Now it isn't poor Charlotte's fault that she was only 21 when she died and led the sheltered life of a princess but that's the truth and there just isn't a great deal to say about her. Her weird, warring parents are interesting characters, certainly. And there could be a lot to say about King Leopold, but after Charlotte's death they just sum up the rest of his life briefly, despite the title he is not half the focus. Read his Wikipedia page and you'll learn as much as there is here.
June 26, 2021
A Captivating story of a true love story. Yet so tragic and a part of history that I was not aware of still I read this well written story.
July 3, 2025
It is a special sort of art to write an engaging book about subjects who died young, and their major contribution to history was their death. It can be done. Unfortunately, this felt heavy-handed and completely without the emotional power that was necessary.
August 2, 2017
This book was hard for me to get through. It had a lot of interesting facts but that's all it felt like it had. A listing of facts is hard to read. If it was set more like a story, it would have been better.
October 22, 2015
I first learned the story of Charlotte and Leopold when reading a biography about Queen Victoria. I'll admit that I don't read much nonfiction and what I have read, centers around the British monarchy because I do quite love it so.
Princess Charlotte of Wales's family could certainly be described as a dysfunctional family but I think what makes them even more dysfunctional is that they were royalty, giving them money out the wazoo but piling debts, servants at their beck and call, and friends in the same (not to say that all were to be trusted).
Charlotte was the only daughter of the future King George IV and his wife, Queen Caroline. Both hated each other and really seemed to marry each other for convenience rather than anything else. Because of their hatred for one another, Charlotte lived a rather gloomy childhood, peaked only occasionally by good friends and the occasional handsome man. Sadly, she thought it very odd when her father was actually nice to her. As she grew older, Charlotte knew the only way to get away from her father's grasps was to get married. That, in itself, was a great task for the future Queen of England.
There were a handful of men that Charlotte liked, fewer were princes. When she thought she would marry the Hereditary Prince of Orange, William, Charlotte broke down in tears when she found out she would have to spend time away from England. Prince Frederick of Prussia somehow held her heart as well, but he didn't quite return her affection. But when the Russian royalty visit, they brought along Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Charlotte was truly smitten.
Chambers does a good job keeping the story detailed but precise. The story of Charlotte and Leopold isn't too long to tell, as Charlotte lived to only be in the early twenties. I do think it is quite endearing, however, how obviously in love Charlotte and Leopold were though, reminding me vaguely of the future Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. Although there were some reservations at first, many people within the household and even friends from the outside, saw how happy Charlote and Leopold were. Unfortunately, however, tragedy struck when Charlotte died after giving birth. It really makes one wonder how the future of Great Britain and its monarchy would have played out at Charlotte and her child lived.
Princess Charlotte of Wales's family could certainly be described as a dysfunctional family but I think what makes them even more dysfunctional is that they were royalty, giving them money out the wazoo but piling debts, servants at their beck and call, and friends in the same (not to say that all were to be trusted).
Charlotte was the only daughter of the future King George IV and his wife, Queen Caroline. Both hated each other and really seemed to marry each other for convenience rather than anything else. Because of their hatred for one another, Charlotte lived a rather gloomy childhood, peaked only occasionally by good friends and the occasional handsome man. Sadly, she thought it very odd when her father was actually nice to her. As she grew older, Charlotte knew the only way to get away from her father's grasps was to get married. That, in itself, was a great task for the future Queen of England.
There were a handful of men that Charlotte liked, fewer were princes. When she thought she would marry the Hereditary Prince of Orange, William, Charlotte broke down in tears when she found out she would have to spend time away from England. Prince Frederick of Prussia somehow held her heart as well, but he didn't quite return her affection. But when the Russian royalty visit, they brought along Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Charlotte was truly smitten.
Chambers does a good job keeping the story detailed but precise. The story of Charlotte and Leopold isn't too long to tell, as Charlotte lived to only be in the early twenties. I do think it is quite endearing, however, how obviously in love Charlotte and Leopold were though, reminding me vaguely of the future Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. Although there were some reservations at first, many people within the household and even friends from the outside, saw how happy Charlote and Leopold were. Unfortunately, however, tragedy struck when Charlotte died after giving birth. It really makes one wonder how the future of Great Britain and its monarchy would have played out at Charlotte and her child lived.
July 27, 2015
Based on the title, I expected a story about the couple formed by the heiress of England and the future King of Belgium in the second decade of the 19th century. In reality, Chambers' book is primarily a biography of Princess Charlotte, the most popular member of the English Royal Family at the time, expected to succeed old King George III and her father the Prince Regent (future George IV) as Queen of England. Charlotte grew up in turbulent times, suffering from the rivalries among Royal family members and experiencing changes in power both internally (with the Tories succeeding the Whigs in government) and externally (with the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815). Her tragic death during childbirth at the age of 21 put an end to the hope that she would one day become Queen.
"Charlotte & Leopold" will please fans of biographical novels. It follows the conventions of the genre and gives some interesting insights on famous historical figures of the time. The book is relatively short (250 pages) and reads easily, even if you are not familiar with the Regency period in 19th century England. Contemporary sources are included rather seemlessly without overburdening the story, and the bibliographical sources are listed at the end of the book.
I personally found it interesting to "experience" the period via the life of a somewhat secondary member of the Royal family, although when I purchased the book I was initially more interested in learning about Charlotte's husband, Leopold. The book is chronological but the dual portrait ends up being unbalanced, with chapters 1 to 23 telling Charlotte's story from birth to womanhood and the last three chapters following Leopold as he recovers from his wife's death, ultimtely leaving England to embrace a new destiny. The epilogue contains a condensed summary of his more than 30-year reign as King of the Belgians, whereas very little is told on Leopold's youth in earlier chapters. That said the book really reads like a novel and makes you want to know more about the other historical figures of the period.
"Charlotte & Leopold" will please fans of biographical novels. It follows the conventions of the genre and gives some interesting insights on famous historical figures of the time. The book is relatively short (250 pages) and reads easily, even if you are not familiar with the Regency period in 19th century England. Contemporary sources are included rather seemlessly without overburdening the story, and the bibliographical sources are listed at the end of the book.
I personally found it interesting to "experience" the period via the life of a somewhat secondary member of the Royal family, although when I purchased the book I was initially more interested in learning about Charlotte's husband, Leopold. The book is chronological but the dual portrait ends up being unbalanced, with chapters 1 to 23 telling Charlotte's story from birth to womanhood and the last three chapters following Leopold as he recovers from his wife's death, ultimtely leaving England to embrace a new destiny. The epilogue contains a condensed summary of his more than 30-year reign as King of the Belgians, whereas very little is told on Leopold's youth in earlier chapters. That said the book really reads like a novel and makes you want to know more about the other historical figures of the period.
February 9, 2017
Charlotte was the only legitimate royal child of all of King George III's children when she was born in 1796 to the Prince of Wales, as such she was the heir presumptive to the throne of England, which made her beloved by the English people and highly marriageable. A whirlwind romance with a Russian officer and prince of Saxe-Coburg, Leopold, led to her untimely death in childbirth at the age of 21. In this book, James Chambers tells the story of the rebellious and ignored child who grew into a beautiful and beloved princess.
I was highly interested in this book as it is a time in British royal history I know little about. I found the book very entertaining. It definitely read like a novel and did not become repetitive like some biographies do (clocking in at around 280 pages helps). I loved learning about the British royal family during the Regency years. Charlotte was an intriguing character and the book makes you wonder how things would have turned out if she had become Queen of England. I like how the book made connections with both past royals and future royals. It showed how this part of history fit in with the rest of it.
One of the annoying things I found about the book is that the author expected a lot of knowledge of the reader. Charlotte's father is only referred to as Charlotte's father for nearly the entire first chapter and then just as the Prince of Wales or the Prince Regent from then on. Also, Charlotte's uncles were only referred to by their titles. It made the reading a bit confusing. I think a family tree was sorely needed.
I would recommend this book to those interested in the royal history of England, especially in the House of Hanover.
I was highly interested in this book as it is a time in British royal history I know little about. I found the book very entertaining. It definitely read like a novel and did not become repetitive like some biographies do (clocking in at around 280 pages helps). I loved learning about the British royal family during the Regency years. Charlotte was an intriguing character and the book makes you wonder how things would have turned out if she had become Queen of England. I like how the book made connections with both past royals and future royals. It showed how this part of history fit in with the rest of it.
One of the annoying things I found about the book is that the author expected a lot of knowledge of the reader. Charlotte's father is only referred to as Charlotte's father for nearly the entire first chapter and then just as the Prince of Wales or the Prince Regent from then on. Also, Charlotte's uncles were only referred to by their titles. It made the reading a bit confusing. I think a family tree was sorely needed.
I would recommend this book to those interested in the royal history of England, especially in the House of Hanover.
January 3, 2017
Very interesting read. Poor Princess Charlotte had such a sad life - lonely and isolated, used by her parents as a pawn in a game to selfishly boost themselves individually - not even as a couple. It is hard to imagine that someone with such a background could grow into a good, kind, intelligent person, but she certainly seemed to. I think people always imagine that princesses and royalty, in general, are so lucky and lead such charmed lives, but the complete opposite tends to be true.
Before I read this I was aware of Princess Charlotte and the fact that had she lived she would have been Queen of England. I knew next to little about her husband, Prince Leopold, who was Queen Victoria's uncle. The sad events in Charlotte's life and the lack of competent medicine put Queen Victoria in the position she held for so many years. Little-known in modern times, Princess Charlotte was the most popular royal figure of her time. I was glad to read that she did have at least a little happiness before her untimely death.
Before I read this I was aware of Princess Charlotte and the fact that had she lived she would have been Queen of England. I knew next to little about her husband, Prince Leopold, who was Queen Victoria's uncle. The sad events in Charlotte's life and the lack of competent medicine put Queen Victoria in the position she held for so many years. Little-known in modern times, Princess Charlotte was the most popular royal figure of her time. I was glad to read that she did have at least a little happiness before her untimely death.
December 4, 2015
Poor tragic Princess Charlotte....
I knew a good amount already about her infamous father (PRINNY I SWEAR TO GOD) and how..."well" he got along with her mother Caroline of Brunswick. But it was fascinating to learn more about Charlotte herself, and how she fought to have an independent life away from the stranglehold her father had on her, and that she got to marry the man she chose. Sadly, as we all know, their happiness was short lived and she dies in childbirth (After suffering multiple miscarriages beforehand) with what would have been a future King of England. Then all her disreputable Uncles had to scramble to find respectable wives and father legitimate children, and this ultimately led to the birth of the future Queen Victoria.
The book was very readable and interesting, and believe me I've slogged through enough dry old history books to last a lifetime. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about Charlotte and her brief but tumultuous life.
I knew a good amount already about her infamous father (PRINNY I SWEAR TO GOD) and how..."well" he got along with her mother Caroline of Brunswick. But it was fascinating to learn more about Charlotte herself, and how she fought to have an independent life away from the stranglehold her father had on her, and that she got to marry the man she chose. Sadly, as we all know, their happiness was short lived and she dies in childbirth (After suffering multiple miscarriages beforehand) with what would have been a future King of England. Then all her disreputable Uncles had to scramble to find respectable wives and father legitimate children, and this ultimately led to the birth of the future Queen Victoria.
The book was very readable and interesting, and believe me I've slogged through enough dry old history books to last a lifetime. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about Charlotte and her brief but tumultuous life.
March 22, 2015
I always enjoy reading Royal Biographies and the story of Charlotte and Leopold is yet another engaging chapter in a long long long line of interesting stories.
The more I read, the more the links come together and I can better understand how all the players interconnect. I knew Leopold was Queen Victoria's uncle, but I was never sure just how she was related to Charlotte. I knew Charlotte was a popular Princess, but I never knew why.
I first read this book back in 2012, yet I feel like I got more out of it this time. Now, I plan to reread "Henrietta Howard: King's Mistress, Queen's Servant" by Tracy Borman in the same hope of feeling like I learned something new.
The more I read, the more the links come together and I can better understand how all the players interconnect. I knew Leopold was Queen Victoria's uncle, but I was never sure just how she was related to Charlotte. I knew Charlotte was a popular Princess, but I never knew why.
I first read this book back in 2012, yet I feel like I got more out of it this time. Now, I plan to reread "Henrietta Howard: King's Mistress, Queen's Servant" by Tracy Borman in the same hope of feeling like I learned something new.
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