CHARLOTTE, PRINCESS ROYAL: (1766-1828)

CHARLOTTE, PRINCESS ROYAL: (1766-1828)

On her daughter’s impending marriage to Napoleon’s youngest brother –

 

 

‘I….regard her happiness as assured, especially since I learned with the keenest interest
all the fine qualities of Prince Jerome of France’

 

CHARLOTTE, PRINCESS ROYAL: (1766-1828) Queen of Wurttemberg 1797-1816, as the wife of King Frederick I, and the eldest daughter of King George III. A very fine A.L.S., Charlotte, two pages, 4to, Stuttgart, 14^th August 1807, to 'Madame ma Soeur' [Josephine de Beauharnais], in French. The Queen writes in the days approaching her daughter, Princess Catharina's, wedding to Jerome Bonaparte, and thanks the Empress for the expressions of friendship she showed in her letter, as well as through the French ambassador, which are so close to her heart 'au moment de me séparer d´une enfant chérie qui fait mon bonheur' (Translation: 'at the time of parting with a darling child who makes me happy'), further adding 'Il m´est bien doux dans ces instants pénibles, de penser qu´elle entre dans une famille qui est disposée à l´aimer, et que votre Majesté Impériale, qui possède au plus haut degré la tendresse Maternelle, veuille bien lui servir de Mère, je regarde donc son bonheur comme assuré, d´autant plus que j´ai appris avec le plus vif intérêt toutes les belles qualités du Prince Jérome de France, il n´y a qu´une voix à son sujet, ce qui me fait espérer que leur Union sera heureuse et qu´elle servira à resserrer les liens qui unissent déjà le Roi mon Epoux à l´Empereur des Français' (Translation: 'It is very sweet to me in these painful moments, to think that she is entering a family which is disposed to love her, and that your Imperial Majesty, who possesses the highest degree of Maternal tenderness, would kindly serve as her Mother, I therefore regard her happiness as assured, especially since I learned with the keenest interest all the fine qualities of Prince Jerome of France, there is only one voice about him, which makes me hope that their Union will be happy and that it will serve to strengthen the ties which already united the King my Spouse to the Emperor of the French'). Queen Charlotte concludes her letter by remarking 'Je me réjouis aussi que ce Mariage me procure l´avantage d´être en des liaisons plus particulières avec votre Majesté Impériale, qui ne saurait douter de l´Amitié et du parfait attachement de sa bonne Soeur' (Translation: 'I am also delighted that this Marriage gives me the advantage of being in more special contact with your Imperial Majesty, who cannot doubt the friendship and the perfect attachment of her good Sister'. With blank integral leaf. A letter of excellent content and wonderful association. Some overall, largely uniform, age toning (most noticeable to the first page) and with a few light stains, G

 

Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814) Empress of the French 1804-10, the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I.

 

Catharina of Wurttemberg (1783-1835) Queen consort of Westphalia 1807-13.

 

Jerome Bonaparte (1784-1860) King of Westphalia 1807-13, the youngest brother of Emperor Napoleon I.

 

In 1803 Wurttemberg entered into an alliance with France under Emperor Napoleon I and one of the terms of the treaty was the marriage of Princess Catharina with Jerome Bonaparte. The wedding took place four years later at the Royal Palace of Fontainebleau on 22^nd August 1807. The couple bonded strongly and had a happy marriage, remaining firmly attached to each other, even after the downfall of the Napoleonic Empire in 1814.