Prince William and Princess Kate’s daughter Princess Charlotte is arguably one of the most famous children in the world. At just nine-years-old, royal fans are already excited for the princess’ future in the monarchy, with Charlotte often making headlines after stepping out at royal events.
However, while we instantly think of the young modern royal when we hear the name Princess Charlotte, she is not the only royal to have had this name. As reported by OK!, another Princess Charlotte existed previously and could have become Queen had she lived long enough. Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, who was born in 1796, was the only daughter of King George IV and his later estranged wife Queen Caroline.
During her life, Charlotte was a popular royal, but was often involved in family conflicts as a result of her controlling father.
As reported by OK!, the princess’ parents did not get along and Charlotte was often left on her own under the control of a governess.
Throughout her life, Charlotte was also allowed very little contact with her mother as a result of her father’s rules. This controlling nature shown by King George IV continued as she got older, despite the fact he hardly ever saw his daughter.
This included rules he had set out that she was forced to follow, such as where in the royal box she had to sit at the opera and the fact that she had to leave before the end of the performance.
His controlling nature also interfered with her relationships, with the Princess having to convince her father to allow her to marry Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld in 1816.
While Charlotte and Prince Leopold were reportedly happy together, their attempts to have children ended in tragedy, with the couple suffering a miscarriage just a few months after their wedding.
Her second pregnancy a few months later then proved fatal for the princess when on November 5, she gave birth to a stillborn boy. Charlotte then passed away a few hours later during the night in 1817.
Despite not being a monarch, the nation went into mourning for the 21-year-old. Her father, who was The Prince of Wales at the time, did not attend her funeral after reports he was too upset.
If she had lived to an older age, she would have ruled as Queen Charlotte I after her father’s reign.
Instead, her father’s death in 1830 saw the crown handed to his brother William, Duke of Clarence, who reigned as William IV.