HRH Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796-1817)  was the only child of George IV and Caroline of Brunswick. Her parents separated very soon after her birth and, as a result, Charlotte was brought up by governesses and saw little of her parents especially her mother. She married Prince Léopold of Saxe-Coburg and tragically died in childbirth at the age of 21 causing a period of unprecedented public mourning. Had she outlived her grandfather and father, Princess Charlotte would have become Queen of England.

This tiny and rare portrait of the Princess shows her in a mauve dress edged with white lace, a pink ribbon bow on her corsage. The dress is accessorized with a necklace of alternating pink and white stones.

Painted in watercolour on card, the portrait is set in a pretty gold brooch surrounded with seed pearls and surmounted with a red enameled crown.

Miss Charlotte Jones (1768-1847) took up painting following the death of her father and benefitted from lessons with Richard Cosway and the recognition of Sir Thomas Lawrence who promoted her work. She became a personal friend to Princess Charlotte and was appointed her miniature painter in 1808, first painting her in her cradle. It follows then that there are several examples of her work in the Royal Collection.