A Musical room of five senses
Queen Charlotte’s Boudoir was used as a private sitting room by Queen Charlotte and her daughters, Princesses Elizabeth, Augusta and Amelia. By 1804, the ground floor was occupied by George III, while Charlotte and her daughters lived on the upper floors.
The Queen and her daughters would have spent hours anxiously awaiting news from doctors while the King was treated for mental and physical illness downstairs.
To pass the time, the Queen and Princesses would read to each other and continue their work of drawing, painting, sewing, weaving and spinning. They also played cards, including gambling games, but the stakes were pennies and tokens.
When
Closed for winter
Ticketing information
Included in Kew Gardens admission
Buy Kew Palace ticketsHighlights of Queen Charlotte's Boudoir
Sofa and three armchairs
This suite of furniture closely matches the description of the furniture supplied by the royal upholsterer Charles Elliott for a small drawing room at Kew in 1809: ‘Grecian scroll sofa frame, brass gilt ornaments’ and ‘8 Grecian black dyed chairs with cane seats and 2 elbows’.
Grecian refers to the shape of leg, like an ancient Greek chair, which was very fashionable at this time. These may have been made for the Prince of Wales’s house, Carlton House, in 1807.
'Head of a Laughing Youth' by Jan Molenaer c.1630
The bold, informal pose of the sitter contrasts with his smart and elegant hat. This juxtaposition of the spontaneous and informal was brought into fashion by Frans Hals and was copied by followers such as Molenaer. Portraits such as this one influenced English artists like William Hogarth, who perfected this more relaxed style of portraiture.
This painting was acquired by George III in 1762 with the Consul Joseph Smith collection in Venice. It was previously owned by the painter GA Pellegrini.
Plaster roundels
As you explore the Queen’s Boudoir, note the plaster roundels in the ceiling, which depict the five senses of taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing. They were probably made by a local plasterer as nearby Boston manor has an identical ceiling. The central roundel is for hearing, suggesting that this may have once been a music room.
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Queen Charlotte's Cottage
Discover a queen's rustic country retreat in the grounds of Kew Palace with a visit to Queen Charlotte’s Cottage.
- Closed for winter
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- Included in Kew Gardens admission
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Queen Charlotte's Bedroom and Ante-room
See Queen Charlotte's bedroom and dressing room where the Queen spent her final months - now including the wig from Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
- Closed for winter
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- Included in Kew Gardens admission
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Queen Charlotte's Drawing Room
Explore Queen Charlotte's Drawing Room, the largest and grandest room in Kew Palace.
- Closed for winter
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- Included in Kew Gardens admission
Browse more history and stories
Queen Charlotte
Wife of George III and mother to 15 children
George III, the Complex King
Dutiful, intelligent and cultured, but cruelly labelled ‘mad’
The Georgians
Who were the kings who gave their name to an age?
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