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No, not Meghan:
Meghan Markle Might Not Be the First Mixed-Race British Royal
According to some historians, Britain had a black queen in the 18th century: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
When Prince Harry announced his engagement to actress Meghan Markle, the world rejoiced—and immediately began to analyze what it will mean for a biracial woman to take a prominent place as a British royal. Markle, whose mother is African-American and whose father is white, was celebrated by some as Britain’s first “black princess,” a milestone for a royal family that had presided over centuries of slavery and colonialism.
But the residents of Buckingham Palace may not be as white as is commonly assumed. According to some historians, mixed-race marriages among European royalty often went unacknowledged due to racism within both the royal family and European society at large. Indeed, Markle may not actually be the first black member of the British monarchy.
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married Britain’s George III in 1761, was also black, claims historian Mario Valdes. He says Charlotte was related to Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a black member of the Portuguese royal family.
However, much of the supposed evidence of Charlotte’s race is based on accounts of her face: she was widely considered to have the features of a person of African descent. During her reign as Queen Consort, Charlotte was mocked for her looks and described as having “a true Mulatto face.” Sir Walter Scottwrote that Charlotte’s family was filled with “ill-colored, orang-outang looking figures,” and during her coronation ceremony her relationship to “the warlike Vandal race”—an ancient Germanic tribe that lived in North Africa—wassaid to be preserved in her appearance.
It’s possible that those who found Charlotte ugly simply used racial stereotypes to insult her. But Valdes maintains she was actually black and had dark skin and features consistent with someone of African descent. However, this doesn’t show up in contemporary portraits or even caricatures of the queen. To Valdes, that’s proof of the literal whitewashing of history.
Complete text: Meghan Markle Might Not Be the First Mixed-Race British Royal - HISTORY
Queen Charlotte bore 15 children to the King, preserving her bloodline. Among her children: George, Prince of Wales; Prince Frederick, Duke of York; and Prince William, Duke of Clarence.
The Children of King George III and Queen Charlotte – HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany
Meghan Markle Might Not Be the First Mixed-Race British Royal
According to some historians, Britain had a black queen in the 18th century: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
When Prince Harry announced his engagement to actress Meghan Markle, the world rejoiced—and immediately began to analyze what it will mean for a biracial woman to take a prominent place as a British royal. Markle, whose mother is African-American and whose father is white, was celebrated by some as Britain’s first “black princess,” a milestone for a royal family that had presided over centuries of slavery and colonialism.
But the residents of Buckingham Palace may not be as white as is commonly assumed. According to some historians, mixed-race marriages among European royalty often went unacknowledged due to racism within both the royal family and European society at large. Indeed, Markle may not actually be the first black member of the British monarchy.
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married Britain’s George III in 1761, was also black, claims historian Mario Valdes. He says Charlotte was related to Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a black member of the Portuguese royal family.
However, much of the supposed evidence of Charlotte’s race is based on accounts of her face: she was widely considered to have the features of a person of African descent. During her reign as Queen Consort, Charlotte was mocked for her looks and described as having “a true Mulatto face.” Sir Walter Scottwrote that Charlotte’s family was filled with “ill-colored, orang-outang looking figures,” and during her coronation ceremony her relationship to “the warlike Vandal race”—an ancient Germanic tribe that lived in North Africa—wassaid to be preserved in her appearance.
It’s possible that those who found Charlotte ugly simply used racial stereotypes to insult her. But Valdes maintains she was actually black and had dark skin and features consistent with someone of African descent. However, this doesn’t show up in contemporary portraits or even caricatures of the queen. To Valdes, that’s proof of the literal whitewashing of history.
Complete text: Meghan Markle Might Not Be the First Mixed-Race British Royal - HISTORY
Queen Charlotte bore 15 children to the King, preserving her bloodline. Among her children: George, Prince of Wales; Prince Frederick, Duke of York; and Prince William, Duke of Clarence.
The Children of King George III and Queen Charlotte – HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany