The Introduction

This print purports to show the introduction of Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia (hence the stereotypical massive Prussian bodyguard) to her in-laws, King George and Queen Charlotte. The actual happy event is reported to have taken place on Sunday, November 20th, 1791.

The Princess had already been married to Prince Frederick, the Duke of York in Berlin on September 29th, but the fine print of the Royal Marriage Act required a separate English ceremony with the full approval of the King. So a second private marriage ceremony was scheduled to be performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Queen's House in London on November 23rd.

The marriage was more than welcome. Where matrimony was concerned, the family of King George and Queen Charlotte was notoriously dysfunctional. The Prince of Wales was secretly and illegally married to the Catholic widow, Mrs. Fitzherbert. The Duke of Clarence was cohabiting with his latest mistress, the actress Dorothea Jordan. And Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent had left for Canada with his most recent flame, Madame de Saint-Laurent. So it was a matter of celebration, even apart from whatever dowry she brought with her, when Prince Frederick, the Duke of York brought home a legitimate bride, one whom his family could actually approve.

But initial reports (clearly reflected in Gillray's print) had made it even better. In August 1791, the Historical Magazine reported that the princess

is to receive a portion of three hundred thousand pounds, besides a pension from the Prussian Court for her own use. The duke is to have a sum of money given him towards the discharge of his debts.

As Gillray's print suggests, this "intelligence" must have made the famously parsimonious King and Queen jump for joy, since Prince Frederick was nearly as good at running up gambling debts as was his older brother, the Prince of Wales. And with such good news being delivered, it is not surprising that the Duke and Duchess are not personally caricatured.

But, alas, the initial intelligence proved quite wrong. On November 21st, the day before Gillray's print appeared, the Evening Mail reported that "the Duchess of York's fortune to the Duke was only ...about 13,000 pounds sterling which was a bequest made to her by her grandfather, the old King of Prussia."

Whatever disappointment the King and Queen may have felt seems to have been swallowed up in the joy of having at least one son legitimately married, for immediately after the ceremony, according to the November Gentleman's Magazine " the Duchess of York went to his Majesty, and attempted to kneel, which his Majesty with some difficulty prevented; and after raising her in his arms, affectionately embraced her."

The introduction was commemorated in 1793 in a more serious fashion with a print by John Murphy after a painting by Richard Livesay.

Sources and Reading

• Commentary from the British Museum on The Introduction
• "Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany," Wikipedia
• "Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia," Wikipedia
• Thomas Wright and R.H. Evans, Historical and Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray #61

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