CHARLOTTE OF MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ: (1744-1818) Queen Consort of the United Kingdom 1761-1818. Wife of King George III. A.L.S., Charlotte, one page, 8vo, Windsor, 25th February 1811, to the Earl of Courtown. The Queen acknowledges receipt of the communication from her correspondent delivering news of 'the Death of Poor Lrd. Cardigan' and asks the Earl to convey her condolences to Lady Cardigan upon her loss, concluding 'I beg you to Believe that in His Death I regret a very good and Excellent Man'. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope wrapper addressed in the Queen's hand and bearing a red wax seal (cracked and the wrapper with numerous large tears and some areas of paper loss). Some minor foxing, otherwise VG

James Stopford (1765-1835) 3rd Earl of Courtown. Anglo-Irish peer and politician who served as Treasurer of the Household 1793-1806, 1807-12.

James Brudenell (1725-1811) 5th Earl of Cardigan. British courtier and politician, Master of the Robes 1760-91, Keeper of the Privy Purse 1773-1812 and Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle 1791-1811. The Earl died at the age of 85 in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, on 24th February 1811. The 76-year-old Earl of Cardigan took the 32-year-old Lady Elizabeth Waldegrave to be his second wife in 1791. The Countess served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1793-1807.