Marie Amelie Augustine Victoire Clementine Leopoldine was born in 1840 to King Leopold I of Belgium and Louise Marie d’Orleans, eldest daughter of King Louis Philippe of France.1 She was christened Marie Charlotte Amelie. Her mother Louise suggested calling her Charlotte in memory of King’ Leopold’s first wife, Princess Charlotte Augusta, who died in childbirth at Castle Clermont near Esher.2

Charlotte was extraordinarily intelligent. She was able to read before she was three years old. Charlotte worshipped her father, even though characteristically, King Leopold preferred not to have had a daughter, but a third son to assure his dynasty. By her fourth birthday, Charlotte had become her father’s pet, and he showered her with presents and a crown of roses. She was much like Leopold, interested in talking like a grown up and using complicated words. She was a happy, beautiful child with large dark eyes and black hair. She was very affectionate with her family and loved to play with her pet cat.3

In the summer of 1850, her grandfather, King Louis Phillippe, died in England. Her mother Queen Louise of Belgium never recovered from her father’s death. By October 10, 1850, she was dead. King Leopold, who had never been close to his sons, found consolation in his daughter’s company. The gay, affectionate child changed almost …show more content…
She enjoyed the classical compositions of Bach and reading Plutarch’s Lives or religious tracts for pleasure. She went riding and swimming, not so much for pleasure, but because it was good for her health and figure.5 She had none of her mother’s gaiety and humor and was censorious of everything. When Charlotte was 13 years old, her father arranged a marriage between her brother Leopold II and an Austrian Archduchess. Charlotte was quick in criticizing her plump and jolly sister-in-law, Crown Princess Marie. Marie got on her nerves to the point that she was constantly saying unpleasant things about