Page "Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz" Paragraph 14

Unfortunately, there can be little doubt that the early married life of the young Queen was scarcely a happy one.

The King was burdened with ministerial troubles, and his mother, secure in the support of his favourite Lord Bute, was able to exert all the influence and authority which age and knowledge of the world and the position of a parent could give her over a young and inexperienced couple.

The young queen was unable to resist, and a sort of palace despotism developed where her mother-in-law controlled all her actions.

The King himself, strongly under his mother's influence, was not inclined to interfere and assumed that all was done rightly.

Already she was not allowed to be too intimate with the English ladies of her household.

It was laid down as being formal etiquette of the court that they should not approach her save under the direction of her German attendants.

Card-playing, which she loved, was presently interdicted.