George IV (George Augustus Frederick)
Born: August 12, 1762
Died: June 26, 1830
Cause of Death: Complications from obesity, gout, and possibly porphyria
Who Were Queen Charlotte’s Children? Her 9 Sons & 6 Daughters With King George III
They adored them all.
Netflix
In Netflix’s prequel to Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte’s children, particularly her daughters, are a bit of a sensitive issue for the reigning monarch. In real life, she and her husband King George III had 9 sons and 6 daughters and while Netflix’s show is a fictionalized portrayal, the kid count is accurate.
In episode one, Charlotte storms into a room in Buckingham Palace to find her children; drunk, playing cards and smoking at 11 am. She seems disappointed in their brattish behavior when they tell her they have “business” to attend to. “By business, do you mean fornicating with your mistresses? Or do you mean producing more bastards for me to ignore?”
One son, Prince Edward, responds that there are “impressionable” ladies present, meaning his sisters, to which Charlotte claps back: “Impressionable? Trust me, Edward, no sexual innuendo makes an impression upon your sisters. I wish it did, that they would get ideas to get married and start fornicating so I might have legitimate grandbabies.” She goes on to explain that the monarchy is at a crisis point when the only heir to the throne has passed. She implores her children to get cracking to ensure the continuation of their father’s line. “Make me a royal baby,” she demands as she exits the room.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story follows the rise of Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) in British regency and her marriage to George III (Corey Mylchreest). The series offers an insight with some historical accuracy although in the opening of episode one, the show’s narrator Lady Whistledown warns us that this was not a history lesson and instead, loosely based upon fact with much of Shona Rhimes’ poetic license, so to speak. However, there is accuracy with regard to how many children Queen Charlotte and King George shared.
“Our Queen Charlotte is based on and inspired by a real person but is a fictional construct. We have made a beautiful, fantastical show with the hope that it makes people stop and wonder, ‘Actually, who was this remarkable woman?’ and go to find out more,” Golda Rosheuvel told Harper’s Bazaar. “Because she deserves it. She was part of the abolitionist movement; she knew Mozart; was a great patron of the arts.”
Who were Queen Charlotte’s children?
Queen Charlotte and King George III had 15 children total and 13 survived into adulthood. Their children, all adults by the time Bridgerton begins in the year 1813, never appeared onscreen but they do make appearances in Queen Charlotte and, as mentioned, the show portrays Charlotte as disappointed in her offspring.
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Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (Frederick Augustus)
Born: August 16, 1763
Died: January 5, 1827
Cause of Death: Dropsy (edema), possibly linked to heart failure -
William IV (William Henry)
Born: August 21, 1765
Died: June 20, 1837
Cause of Death: Heart failure -
Charlotte, Princess Royal (Charlotte Augusta Matilda)
Born: September 29, 1766
Died: October 5, 1828
Cause of Death: Unknown specific cause, possibly related to childbirth or a prolonged illness -
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (Edward Augustus)
Born: November 2, 1767
Died: January 23, 1820
Cause of Death: Pneumonia -
Princess Augusta Sophia
Born: November 8, 1768
Died: September 22, 1840
Cause of Death: Unknown specific cause, likely natural causes related to old age -
Princess Elizabeth
Born: May 22, 1770
Died: January 10, 1840
Cause of Death: Unknown specific cause, likely natural causes related to old age -
Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover (Ernest Augustus)
Born: June 5, 1771
Died: November 18, 1851
Cause of Death: Stroke -
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
Born: January 27, 1773
Died: April 21, 1843
Cause of Death: Respiratory illness -
Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
Born: February 24, 1774
Died: July 8, 1850
Cause of Death: Unknown specific cause, likely natural causes related to old age -
Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Born: April 25, 1776
Died: April 30, 1857
Cause of Death: Unknown specific cause, likely natural causes related to old age -
Princess Sophia
Born: November 3, 1777
Died: May 27, 1848
Cause of Death: Unknown specific cause, likely natural causes related to old age -
Prince Octavius
Born: February 23, 1779
Died: May 3, 1783
Cause of Death: SmallpoxSix months after the death of his brother Prince Alfred after a smallpox inoculation, Octavius was also inoculated with the virus. He became ill and died just a few days later at age four. Per the Royal Collection Trust, Queen Charlotte wrote to a friend: “In less than eight and forty hours was my son Octavius, in perfect health, sick and struck with death immediately”.
At the time, immunizing people against the brutal disease involved a small sample of infected matter deliberately introduced into the body in order to prevent the full disease from developing. The young boys’ death from inoculation was not representative of its success: there was merely a two-percent death rate compared to 14 percent of those who contracted the virus via infection.
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Prince Alfred
Born: September 22, 1780
Died: August 20, 1782
Cause of Death: Probably smallpox or other infectious diseaseIt is believed that Prince Alfred contracted smallpox in 1782, a highly contagious and often deadly disease at the time. Although vaccination efforts were in their infancy, smallpox was still a significant threat.
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Princess Amelia
Born: August 7, 1783
Died: November 2, 1810
Cause of Death: Erysipelas (a severe skin infection), complicated by tuberculosisAmelia was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a common and often deadly infectious disease in the 18th and 19th centuries. Her health continued to deteriorate due to this condition. In addition to tuberculosis, Amelia developed erysipelas, a serious bacterial skin infection characterized by large, red patches on the skin. This infection likely exacerbated her already weakened state.
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