Princess Charlotte of Prussia and the gossips
Princess Viktoria Elisabeth Auguste Charlotte was born on 24 July 1860
at the Neues Palais in Potsdam.
She was the eldest daughter and second child of Prince
Frederick William of Prussia and his wife Victoria, Princess Royal.
Family
Her grandmother, Queen Victoria, wanted her eldest granddaughter
to be named after her. However, the Prussians wanted the new
princess to be named Charlotte after Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
of Russia, who had been born Princess Charlotte of Prussia.
to be named after her. However, the Prussians wanted the new
princess to be named Charlotte after Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
of Russia, who had been born Princess Charlotte of Prussia.
As a compromise, her first name was Victoria, but she was always
referred as Charlotte. She was also named after her paternal
grandmother, Queen Augusta of Prussia.
referred as Charlotte. She was also named after her paternal
grandmother, Queen Augusta of Prussia.
Princess Charlotte of Prussia was by birth a member of the
Royal House of Hohenzollern.
Royal House of Hohenzollern.
Childhood
While Vicky was close with her eldest daughter, this changed as
the girl grew older; by the time she was two years old, Charlotte
had become known as "sweet naughty little Ditta"and would prove
to be the most difficult of the family's eight children.
the girl grew older; by the time she was two years old, Charlotte
had become known as "sweet naughty little Ditta"and would prove
to be the most difficult of the family's eight children.
As a young girl, she acted nervously and made frequent displays
of agitation, such as pulling at her clothes. An early habit of
biting her nails led to preventative measures like the forced
wearing of gloves, but any methods only provided temporary relief.
of agitation, such as pulling at her clothes. An early habit of
biting her nails led to preventative measures like the forced
wearing of gloves, but any methods only provided temporary relief.
Education
Charlotte was an indifferent student, to the dismay of her mother,
who placed a high value on education. Charlotte's governess
declared she had never seen "more difficulties" than with
the princess, while Vicky once wrote of Charlotte in a letter
to her mother that "Stupidity is not a sin, but it renders
education a hard and difficult task."
who placed a high value on education. Charlotte's governess
declared she had never seen "more difficulties" than with
the princess, while Vicky once wrote of Charlotte in a letter
to her mother that "Stupidity is not a sin, but it renders
education a hard and difficult task."
Youth
Over time, a rift developed between the family's three eldest
and three youngest children.
and three youngest children.
The deaths of Charlotte's brothers Sigismund and Waldemar in
1866 and 1879, respectively, devastated the Crown Princess.
1866 and 1879, respectively, devastated the Crown Princess.
Charlotte was a favourite of her paternal grandparents, whom
she frequently saw.
she frequently saw.
King Wilhelm and Queen Augusta spoiled their granddaughter
and encouraged her rebellion against the Crown Prince and Princess,
and Charlotte and her brother frequently took their side in disputes
with her parents.
and encouraged her rebellion against the Crown Prince and Princess,
and Charlotte and her brother frequently took their side in disputes
with her parents.
This rebellion was encouraged by the German chancellor
Otto von Bismarck, who held political disagreements with
the liberal Crown Prince and Princess.
Otto von Bismarck, who held political disagreements with
the liberal Crown Prince and Princess.
Charlotte also enjoyed a close relationship with her eldest brother,
though they grew apart after his marriage in 1881 to Augusta
Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein ("Dona").
though they grew apart after his marriage in 1881 to Augusta
Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein ("Dona").
Love & Marriage
As Charlotte grew older, her behaviour came to include flirtation,
spreading malicious gossip, and causing trouble, traits her mother
had noticed in her daughter's youth and had hoped she
would outgrow.
spreading malicious gossip, and causing trouble, traits her mother
had noticed in her daughter's youth and had hoped she
would outgrow.
Vicky characterised her as a "wheedling little kitten [who] can
be so loving whenever she wants something".
be so loving whenever she wants something".
She believed that Charlotte's "pretty exterior" hid "dangerous
character traits," and blamed nature for producing such qualities
in her daughter.
character traits," and blamed nature for producing such qualities
in her daughter.
In April 1877, the sixteen-year-old Charlotte became engaged
to her second cousin Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen,
heir to the German Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen.
to her second cousin Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen,
heir to the German Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen.
A scandal
In early 1891, Berlin society erupted in scandal after a series
of anonymous letters circulated to prominent members of
the court, including Wilhelm and his wife Dona.
of anonymous letters circulated to prominent members of
the court, including Wilhelm and his wife Dona.
The letters were written in the same handwriting, and featured
salacious gossip, accusations, and intrigues among the court's
powerful.
salacious gossip, accusations, and intrigues among the court's
powerful.
Some included pornographic images layered upon royal
photographs. Several hundred letters were sent over a
four-year period.
photographs. Several hundred letters were sent over a
four-year period.
Wilhelm ordered an investigation, but the writer (or writers)
were never identified. Some contemporaries speculated
that Charlotte, known for her sharp tongue and love of gossip,
may have been responsible.
were never identified. Some contemporaries speculated
that Charlotte, known for her sharp tongue and love of gossip,
may have been responsible.
During the letters scandal, Charlotte lost her diary which
contained both family secrets and critical thoughts on
various members of her family; the diary was eventually given
to Wilhelm, who never forgave her for its contents.
contained both family secrets and critical thoughts on
various members of her family; the diary was eventually given
to Wilhelm, who never forgave her for its contents.
Bernhard was transferred to a regiment in the quiet town of
Breslau, effectively exiling him and his wife. As controller
of Charlotte's allowance, Wilhelm also limited their ability
to travel outside of the country unless they were willing to
go without royal honours.
Breslau, effectively exiling him and his wife. As controller
of Charlotte's allowance, Wilhelm also limited their ability
to travel outside of the country unless they were willing to
go without royal honours.
In 1896, Dona accused Charlotte of engaging in an affair
with Karl-August Freiherr Roeder von Diersburg,
a court official.
with Karl-August Freiherr Roeder von Diersburg,
a court official.
Charlotte fiercely denied the allegations. Bernhard defended
his wife and criticised the Hohenzollerns for attempting to
keep every Prussian princess under the control of the family.
his wife and criticised the Hohenzollerns for attempting to
keep every Prussian princess under the control of the family.
Bernhard considered resigning his army position and leaving
with his wife for Meiningen, though the dispute eventually
resolved itself when von Diersburg returned to court
with his wife.
with his wife for Meiningen, though the dispute eventually
resolved itself when von Diersburg returned to court
with his wife.
The scandal was considered to have seriously damaged the
reputation of the monarchy.
reputation of the monarchy.
Health
The majority of historians hold that Charlotte and her daughter
Feodora were afflicted with porphyria, a genetic disease that
is believed to have affected some members of the
British Royal Family, most notably King George III.
Feodora were afflicted with porphyria, a genetic disease that
is believed to have affected some members of the
British Royal Family, most notably King George III.
Death
In June 1911, Charlotte attended her cousin George V's coronation
in England, but the country's summer heat left her bed-ridden
with a swollen face and pain in her limbs.
in England, but the country's summer heat left her bed-ridden
with a swollen face and pain in her limbs.
On 25 June 1914, her husband inherited his father's duchy
and became Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
and became Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
World War I broke out on 28 July; Bernhard left for the front
while Charlotte remained behind to oversee the duchy,
serving mainly as a figurehead .
while Charlotte remained behind to oversee the duchy,
serving mainly as a figurehead .
During the war, Charlotte increasingly experienced various
pains including chronic aches, swollen legs, and kidney
problems.
pains including chronic aches, swollen legs, and kidney
problems.
The degree of the pain became so severe that she took opium
as her only comfortable treatment.
as her only comfortable treatment.
The end of the war in 1918 led to the political demise of the
German Empire, as well as all of its many duchies; consequently,
Bernhard was forced to abdicate his rule over Saxe-Meiningen.
German Empire, as well as all of its many duchies; consequently,
Bernhard was forced to abdicate his rule over Saxe-Meiningen.
The following year, Charlotte travelled to Baden-Baden to seek
medical treatment for her heart, ultimately dying there of a
heart attack on 1 October 1919 at the age of 59.
medical treatment for her heart, ultimately dying there of a
heart attack on 1 October 1919 at the age of 59.
Bernhard died nine years later and was buried with her
at Schloss Altenstein in Thuringia.
at Schloss Altenstein in Thuringia.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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