Queen Charlotte

"Queen Charlotte Walks in Her Garden (sculpture)", Charlotte, NC. The life-size bronze sculpture of Queen Charlotte stands in a garden along with sculptures of two of her dogs. She is depicted wearing a long-sleeved gown with petticoat and train and holds a small bouquet of flowers in her right hand. On her right wrist she wears a bracelet with a cameo of her husband, King George III of England. One dog playfully jumps at the hem of her dress and the other stands amidst the plantings staring back at her with a look of devotion. An inscribed plaque is set in the brick walkway beneath the raised garden bed.

Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) was The Queen consort of Great Britain from September 8, 1761 to November 17, 1818. Many places around the world have been named after Queen Charlotte including the City of Charlottesville and Mecklenburg County in Virginia.

Born Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on May 19, 1744, she was the youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Elizabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen. At the age of eight years old, Mozart performed for The Queen and was invited to perform to at the celebration of the fourth anniversary of The King's accession in 1764. Mozart's Opus 3 was dedicated to The Queen when it was published on January 18, 1765. The Queen died at Dutch House (now Kew Palace) on November 17, 1818 and was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.