Queen Charlotte Sophia: A Royal Affair
1752, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany. Princess Charlotte Sophia’s father reveals a secret about their family history before his sudden death. Their final conversation beings her journey: she must uncover the significance of her bloodline and its relevance to the colour of her skin. However, her own family creates barriers to prevent her gaining the knowledge she seeks.
1760, London, England. King George III is being pressured to marry. The only suitable princess is Charlotte. Though she’s given her heart to Johann Christian Bach, she agrees to the match and sails across the North Sea.
But there are deep, scandalous secrets that follow Charlotte. If these resurface during her tenure as queen, her marriage will be destroyed, her children barred from succession – her life in ruins. She recruits unlikely friends and allies to protect her from the foes determined to see her fall. These supporters help her find answers to the questions left by her father and uncover several truths about Charlotte’s real family.
This fictionalised story blends fact with imagination, creating interesting subplots to fill in the historical gaps. The novel shifts between Charlotte’s diary entries to narrative to letters.
Though told mostly from Charlotte’s perspective, the book hops from character to character, which prevented me from connecting with Charlotte’s feelings. The novel spans Charlotte’s lifetime, with some events described in great detail, but the final years rush by. If the story had focused on a few specific years or events instead of covering her entire life, I might have developed a deeper sense of empathy with her.
Originally published in 2013, this is an updated ten-year anniversary edition, and it will appeal to readers who enjoyed the Netflix show Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
