Princess Amelia

Born at Windsor Castle in 1783, Princess Amelia was the youngest and fifteenth child of George III and Queen Charlotte. Interested in art and music, she was reputed to be her father’s favourite child. Her health was delicate and, aged 17, she was sent to Weymouth to convalesce. Whilst there, she met and fell in love with Charles FitzRoy, an equerry who was more than twice her age. Unfortunately the Royal Marriages Act forbade such a match. The Princess’s health continued to deteriorate and she died in November 1810.

This watercolour portrait of the Princess is based on a miniature portrait painted by Andrew Robertson in 1807. In his dairy Robertson records –

Princess Amelia sat, lovely creature, fine features, melting eye, charming figure, elegant, dignified, finest hair imaginable – sits in her hat, cap, etc. however, because the Duke of Sussex likes the dress – none of her fine hair seen. She is quite indifferent about her looks.

Robertson was pleased with the portrait and a couple of months later wrote:

I have, without the smallest hesitation … outdone my best pictures.

Shortly before Amelia’s death, the King commissioned Robertson to make replicas of the portrait for her siblings. It was also published as an engraving following Amelia’s death and made available to the general public as a memento of the late Princess.

Painted in monochrome watercolour around 1811, the portrait is set in a period reeded frame. A tiny label on the backing board suggests the talented copyist was ‘Lady H’.