A 19th Century Staffordshire portrait bust of Princess Charl...

Hammer

£260

A 19th Century Staffordshire portrait bust of Princess Charlotte, circa 1817, with feathered head piece and draped gown at the shoulders, mounted to a socle base, manufactured by John & Richard Riley of Mile Street, Hill Works, Burslem, signed and dated to the base, height 43cm.

Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817) was the only child of George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV) and Caroline of Brunswick. As the sole legitimate grandchild of King George III, she was second in line to the British throne and seen as the future of the monarchy. In 1816, she married Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later King of the Belgians), and their union was widely celebrated. Tragically, in 1817, Charlotte died at the age of 21 after giving birth to a stillborn son, plunging the nation into deep mourning. Her death had profound consequences, leaving the British royal succession in crisis and prompted a rush among George III’s sons to marry and produce heirs, eventually leading to the birth of Queen Victoria.

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Restored, hairline crack through base.