Princess Royal, Since 1642

Princess Royal, Since 1642

Once, I read Princesses: The Six Daughters of George III by Flora Fraser (2006). I particularly remember a section about George III and his adoration of his eldest daughter, Charlotte. He was so overcome by fatherly joy he bestowed upon her the title, "Princess Royal" (at first unofficially and later officially). From then on, her family nickname was "Royal". I can only imagine how that moniker must have inflated that child's ego. I shudder to think what my three-year-old daughter would become were she called "Royal" every day of her life.

Much as a small child would, I became interested in the title Princess Royal, wondering whether it came with any tangible benefits attached, such as a royal pony or, perhaps, a place in the succession over a younger brother.  I found it came (and still comes) with nothing attached, not even exemption from the current traffic laws of Britain.  However, it just has ... such a nice ring to it.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I began to read more and more British history during snatches of alone time covetously guarded.  I learned the title Princess Royal is not automatic or hereditary, but is traditionally granted to the unmarried eldest daughter of a monarch, during the monarch's reign and at that monarch's pleasure.  There has never been more than one living holder of this title at any time. 

The next few posts are going to include true stories about the ordinary and extraordinary women who have held this title throughout British history.  Certain posts, the transition posts, will set the stage for the forthcoming Princess Royal, describing her family, the political climate and famous people of her time.  Other posts will be short biographies of the six Princesses Royal, each of whom have lived during exciting and pivotal times in British history from the 1630s until today.

Here is the story about the origin of the title, Princess Royal, first bestowed in 1642:

The Succession of James I in 1603

James I by Daniel Mytens

King James I was the first monarch to unite the crowns of England and Scotland. He succeeded Elizabeth I, who had no children or heirs apparent. He was both the son of Queen Elizabeth's cousin and rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, and of a line that had been excluded from the succession by the will of Henry VIII. Elizabeth I herself referred to him as "the false Scotch urchin."[1]  However, by 1603, James was the only member of the royal family who hadn't been imprisoned, murdered, executed, exiled, or politically and socially marginalized. Plus, he was married (something Elizabeth I ever refused to be), had children, and possessed experience ruling a country. Most important to the nobility and citizens of England, King James was at least ostensibly a Protestant (thanks to the Scottish lords). It just made sense for him to come on down to London.  So, he did ... but he refused to attend Queen Bess's funeral, opting to go hunting, instead.[1]

James I may have been vain and self-indulgent with poor table manners, but he was also an intellectual, a prolific writer, and an avid horseman. He may have had at least an emotional obsession with a string of handsome young courtiers, but he had a positive relationship with his frivolous, fashionable wife, Anne of Denmark, who had married James at the age of 15, and who he affectionately called, "my Annie."[1]  (Once, Anne shot James's favorite dog accidentally with a cross bow.  James said the accident could have happened to anyone "and sent her £2,000 as Jowler's legacy."[1])  James I exhibited shrewd judgement in helping to uncover the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 by personally insisting on searches of the buildings in and around Parliament, which led to the capture of Guy Fawkes.  This same nous helped James I hold onto his crown, no easy feat in those days.

The Succession of Charles I in 1625

Charles I by Anthony van Deck

King James's son, Charles, was not the most prepossessing heir apparent. At first, he wasn't even an heir apparent.  He must have been an heir unapparent. His beloved elder brother, Henry, was created Prince of Wales upon his father's succession, while Charles was initially created Duke of York.  However, Henry died when Charles was only 11, making Charles the new heir. Charles's elder sister, Elizabeth, was married off by the time Charles was 12 years old.  Although her marriage to the King of Bohemia proved to be politically disastrous for her, Elizabeth's descendants later comprised the House of Hanover ... and the current royal family.

From the time of his birth in 1600, Charles was seen as having fragile health. He wasn't even expected to live and was baptized on the day of his birth. As a toddler, he did not "toddle", due to weak ankles.  He was not considered strong enough to journey to England to join his parents and elder siblings until age three-and-a-half in August of 1604.  He did not learn to walk or talk until the age of four, and then, only thanks to Lady Carey, who was entrusted with his care.  He exhibited a stammer for the rest of his life (much like his sister's descendant, Charlotte, Princess Royal, and George VI).  Believed by many scholars to have had rickets as a child, Charles grew to be only 5'4".[1]  However, by the age of eight, he had astonished everyone with his intellectual achievements, writing in Latin and beginning to learn four additional languages.  He received an excellent education and eventually became quite an outdoorsman.

Charles I's personality was quite different from his father's.  He was conscientious, pious, formal, austere, tenacious, principled, high-minded, and well-mannered.  He had an aloof demeanor and took himself very seriously.[1]  Charles's affectionate mother influenced his artistic and aesthetic tastes, and he eventually became a patron of the arts.  Perhaps due to Queen Anne's example as a spendthrift (despite a huge income, she was always in debt), Charles had little financial sense. Charles witnessed the reign of his father, characterized by poor administrative and financial habits, an extravagant, ever-moving court, irritating conflicts between the monarch and Parliament, the narrowly averted disaster of the Gunpowder Plot, popular hatred of Catholicism, rising inflation, and an increasing divide between rich and poor.  According to Bowle, "During the eight years since Prince Charles had come to England the prospects of the monarchy had deteriorated - over religion, the common law, the relationship with Parliament, the management of the economy and the personnel of government."[1]  This was Charles I's inheritance.

A Hoity Toity Queen (from 1625 - 1644)

Henrietta Maria of France, Anthony van Deck

Charles succeeded to his father's throne at the age of 24. Two months later, Charles married a half-French, half-Italian Catholic, Henriette Marie of France.  Henriette Marie bore similarities to Charles's mother, not the least her habit of extravagant spending.  She also eerily reminded Charles's subjects of his ill-fated grandmother, Mary, Queen of Scots, who was Catholic and, culturally, decidedly French.  Henriette Marie was everything the English were not: cosmopolitan, witty, and frivolous.  Neither her hoity toity French customs nor her Catholicism endeared her to the English hoi poloi.  After all, the last Catholic queen the English had experienced had regularly burned Protestants in the streets of London.  The people came to hate her, much as the French public came to hate Queen Marie Antoinette in the next century.

Henriette Marie, ironically, was a youngest daughter. However, she brought with her to England a French custom of honoring the eldest daughter of the monarch with the title Madame Royale, or Princess Royal.  That and a shilling could have bought her an ale.  The English never appreciated her small contribution to their culture ... or her.

Henriette Marie, the daughter of a queen who was exiled, became an exiled queen herself in 1644. Henriette Marie, the daughter of a king who was assassinated before she was a year old, became the wife of a king who was executed before she was 40.

My next post will be about Mary, the daughter of Charles I, the first English Princess Royal.

Family tree of James I, including his children, Henry, Elizabeth, and Charles (Ancestry.com):

1. Bowle, John. Charles the First. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1975.