Queen Charlotte: was she Britain’s first Black queen?

Queen Charlotte was born Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Germany in 1744.

[{"selector":"#anim-5ab75757-429e-4921-8846-caa50619cb8f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(6.422992797199546%, 5.231584039001137%) scale(1.4464285714285714)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-296d12c0-4238-46a8-bf12-ae4de43b3927","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She was the eighth child and youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Elizabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

[{"selector":"#anim-6f68f8a6-7760-4c22-ab00-661a798ee118 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01c62d58-65df-4eb9-bf9b-2c7e98f19fba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte was educated in botany, natural history, and traditional domestic skills before marrying King George III at age 17.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc233839-7b06-48d2-b70e-6c73d295bbd2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6208a3f8-d0db-4907-9183-5ddcd9c8b8a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It has been theorized that Charlotte may have had Black ancestry through her connection to Margarita de Castro e Sousa, a member of the Black branch of the Portuguese Royal House.

[{"selector":"#anim-975a4a4a-7708-4562-9c64-98cc40d0b3e4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec0b33ce-600c-4ba7-83c9-fa6faef84bd4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] However, her position as Britain's first Black queen is still debated by historians.

[{"selector":"#anim-e462a9f2-77b0-49a4-a514-02fec60f3855 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c091b692-e07b-4de8-9f7b-603563255c85","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Queen Charlotte is credited with hosting the first Debutante ball, which became an annual event at Buckingham Palace until 1958.

[{"selector":"#anim-4282fe9d-bfe0-433e-952b-c814b156791f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10eee024-9bc3-4350-ac03-5f29af9942ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She also brought Christmas trees to Britain, decorating one at Queen's Lodge, Windsor, in December 1800.

[{"selector":"#anim-98f0d336-189f-4414-ae9f-c26e55312e31 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.9553179287034723%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-688f121f-2ec4-4a2c-8ad9-b92343b05f78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The May ball was held by King George III in honour of his wife, to raise money for the General Lying-in Hospital, which today is called The Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital.

[{"selector":"#anim-5dd9c0c5-c1a3-41f7-9f7d-0ac733df5971 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(7.894737078919633%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a898e98-5657-4842-9bc2-d01f62da0468","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte's race is highlighted in the Netflix series "Bridgerton" through the character of Lady Danbury.

[{"selector":"#anim-6d6b88ca-ab02-4f3a-a389-17b3a56dd8a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b08eba4d-40c3-4f69-85ee-6589ebdca604","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte's connection to Margarita de Castro e Sousa is not discussed in "Bridgerton".

[{"selector":"#anim-97654f46-9ea9-43ea-b778-b5f730bfc314 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.4210854715202004e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94dd88b7-a9ca-4633-a44a-dcffbe300771","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte's "African" features may have been downplayed by artists of the time.

[{"selector":"#anim-ad282ea5-3317-46a5-8400-5885b9a45dae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e074c87-813e-4550-9a74-eeff13106978","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Historian Hakim Adi believes there is little evidence that Charlotte's ancestor Madragana was Black.

[{"selector":"#anim-3c2b77de-5419-4a73-a932-982d64ea6056 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02215580-5b98-4a61-b18a-01a77dab01e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte's exact ethnicity is still a subject of debate among historians.

[{"selector":"#anim-5c2c2e18-4faf-49fa-a6c1-85e5f4fab5d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02de1b58-8dea-4b85-9947-e38e6e72ec58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte was known for her support of the arts and sciences.

[{"selector":"#anim-3a3845d0-d5c1-49a4-949f-b7663d7665c6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f386c24-f17a-4307-9796-055373c08d71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She died in 1818 at the age of 74.