‘Albion's Queen by All Admir'd’ : reassessing the public reputation of Queen Charlotte, 1761‐1818

Abstract

This article challenges contemporary and historiographical assertions about the public reputation of Queen Charlotte. Through an examination of newspaper articles and satirical prints, it traces the evolution of Charlotte's public reputation through events such as the Regency Crisis, the Regency and ultimately her death in 1818. Charlotte's largely positive reputation centred on repeated representations of her domesticity and devotion to her family. Deeper analysis of public discourse reveals that a counter image of Charlotte circulated in the public sphere from 1786 onwards, one which portrayed her as an emotionally cold mother and an avaricious, politically ambitious queen.