Prince Charles Edward Stuart, 1720-1788
Mother: Princess Clementina Maria Sobieski. daughter of Prince James Sobieski, granddaughter of King John Sobieski of Poland and related to the Queen of Spain and Emperor of Germany. At the time her her marriage she was seventeen years of age. She was elegant and graceful in person and of a most amiable disposition. Although kind and considerate to those around her she could not readily forgive an insult or any want of respect to her rank and position.
Father: Prince James Edward Stuart titular King James VIII and III of Great Britain. Prince Charles was born on 31 December 1720 (20 December 1720 in the new style) in Rome and baptised Charles Edward Louis Philip Casimir Stuart. The baptism of the Prince was preformed with all the impressive ritual of the Roman Church, and the same gorgeous accessories of royalty ebvioroned him as at his birth. Cradled in luxury from the moment he first drew breath, petted and made much of by men of the highest rank, worshiped by the many noble and beautiful women who dwelt in Rome at the period, flattered by sycophants and courtiers who had their own end in view, Charles found the world a pleasant place. According to the report of Hanoverian eavesdroppers and back stair gossipers the infant Prince was delicate, deformed, and of so weak a constitution that his death was confidently expected. Prince Charles was neither sickly or deformed and was described by the Marquis of Blanford (an impartial witness) when a few week old as "a fine promising child." Later he developed into a handsome lad, with noble brow, finely chiseled nose, expressive dark brown eyes hair of auburn tint inclining to gold. His figure was slim but shapely and well built; his disposition inclined to mirthfulness and in boyhood and early manhood his amiableness of character caused him to be loved be all who came into contact with him. At times he could be rebellious and instances are recorded by his biographers of serious outbreaks of temper in which he would even threaten to kill those opposed to him.
Compiled from The Life and Adventures of Prince Charles Edward Stuart Vol. 1, Chapter 1 by W. Drummond Norie, published 1900 Descriptions of Prince Charles
The following passage relates to the education of Charles:
When only two, Charles was described by John Hay as 'healthy and strong' and one who 'runs about from morning to night.' A year later Hay added that 'he is a great musician and plays his violin continually'. When six and a half the Duke of Liria wrote; 'Besides his great beauty he has remarkable for his dexterity, grace and almost supernatural address. Not only could he read fluently, he could ride, fire a gun; and, more surprisingly still, I have seen him take a cross-bow and kill birds on the roof and split a rolling ball with a bolt ten times in succession. He speaks English, French and Italian perfectly and altogether is the most perfect Prince I have ever met in my life'.The above text is to be found in: The Stuarts' Last Secret, The Missing Heirs of Bonnie Prince Charlie by Peter Pininski, page 17 The following text is attributed to a Mr Home "The figure and presence of Charles are said by one of his historians, who saw him on this occasion, to have been not ill suited to his lofty pretensions. He was in the prime of youth, tall an handsome, of a fair complexion; he wore a light-coloured peruke, the ringlets of which descended his back increased from masses, and over the front of which his own pale hair was neatly combed. This complexion was ruddy, and, from its extremely delicacy, slightly marked with freckles. His visage was a perfect oval, and his brow had all the intellectual but melancholy loftiness so remarkable in the portraits of his ancestors. His neck, which was long, but not ungracefully so, had, according to the fashion of the time, no other covering or encumbrance than a slender stock buckled behind. His eyes were large and rolling, and of light blue. The fair, but not ill-marked eyebrows which surmounted these features where beautifully arched. His nose was round and high, and his mouth small and proportion to the best of his features. He was above a five feet ten inches in stature, and his body was of that straight and round description which is said to indicate not only perfect symmetry, but also the valuable requisites of agility and health. In the language of one of his adherents, he was as ‘straight as a lance, and as round as an egg’. On the present occasion he wore a blue velvet bonnet bound with gold lace, and adorned the top with a white satin cockade, the well-known badge of his party. He had a short tartan coat, on the breast of which hung the star of the order of St Andrew. A blue sash, wrought in gold, came graciously over his shoulder. He wore small-clothes of red velvet, a pair of military boots, and a silver-hilted broadsword". Hist. Reb. with an account of the genius and temper of the Clans (unknown author) & History of the Rebellion of 1745 by Robert Chambers, pages 100 to 102 His entry to Manchester
About nine o'clock that night, (28th December 1745) the vanguard, consisting of about 100 horsemen, arrived in Manchester; and next day the whole army came up. The Prince entered at two in the afternoon, walking in the midst of a select band of Highlanders; his dress a light tartan plaid, belted with a blue sash, a gray wig, and a blue velvet bonnet, topped by a rose of white ribbons, the badge of his house. He took up his quarters in a handsome house (Highmoor House) in Market Street, belonging to a gentleman named Dickenson - afterwards, from that circumstance, called 'The Palace,' and long after used as an inn. (1869: The house has for some years been replaced by a new building).
History of the Rebellion of 1745 by Robert Chambers, page 185 Drinking habits
It is well documented that Bonnie Prince Charlie liked his drink. The following paragraphs relate to his drinking habits:
"When in the forest house of Glencoridale in South Uist, he would step into a by-chamber, which served as a pantry, and, when he stood in use of it, put the bottle of brandy to his head without ceremony." From a Journal by Young Clanranald - Lyon in Mourning, Volume iii, page 589 & History of the Rebellion of 1745, by Robert Chambers, footnote on page 474 Bishop Forbes reports on a conversation he had with Kingsburgh and his wife referring to a night Charles spent in their house: "The prince ate four roasted eggs, some callops, plenty of bread and butter, and — to use the words of Mrs McDonald—the deil a drap did he want of twa bottles of sma' beer; God do him good o't; for weel I wat he had my blessing to gae doun wi't. After he had made a plentiful supper, he called for a dram, and when the brandy bottle was brought, he said he would fill the glass himself, 'for,' said he, I have learnt in my skulking to take a hearty dram. He filled up a bumper, and drank it off in the happiness and prosperity of his landlord and landlady." Lyon in Mourning by Bishop Forbes, Volume ii, page 209 & History of the Rebellion of 1745, by Robert Chambers, footnote on page 474 Interesting Obituary
Died at Glenalbert, on the estate of Dalguise, Perthshire, on Sunday the 22nd September 1822, Mrs Margt. Law, widow of the late James Stewart, Esqr. of Tulloch, near Blair in her 100th year. Her husband was a Captain in one of the Athol regiments, under Lord George Murray, and carried the Royal standard for Prince Charles Edward, at the battle of Culloden, in 1746. Of that unfortunate Prince Mrs Stewart had a most perfect recollection, and, till within a few days of her death, spoke with the fondness of long cherished reminiscence, and with the accuracy of a mind and memory perfectly entire, of his dress, manner and appearance. It was at Dunkeld, on his way to Edinburgh, in September, 1745, that she had seen the prince, and presented a pair of brogues to his Royal Highness, of which (to her) momentous occurrence she had complete remembrance. After the forfeiture of Mr Stewart's estate, he retired to the village of Glenalbert, and died there in 1807, at the advanced age of 96. His widow continued to occupy the same humble cottage, and to live in respected retirement, on the small part of their fortune which had been saved, until the day of her death. As few if any, now living, can relate, from personal observation the occurrences of the 1745, it is probable that this must have been one of the last remaining links of connection with a past age and generation.
The Anecdotal Writings of John Manders, Vol 8, written circa., 1829-30, pages 1409 - 1410 © to Keith Mitchell |
A miniature of Bonnie Prince Charlie given by the Prince to William Home.
Logan Home Collection at Culloden
Letter from Prince Charles to his father. Prince Charles was aged 7 years old when this letter was written.
Painting of Prince Charles about 1745 - unknown artist.
Highmoor House, Carlisle in 1745. Now demolished and a M&S store has been built where the house used to stand.
Prince Charles in 1776 at Florence
This masterpiece by Canova commemorates James III, the 'Old Pretender' to the English throne, and his two sons, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Henry
The Latin inscription reads as follows:
IACOBO III - (To James III) IACOBI II MAGNAE BRIT REGIS FILIO - (Son of James II, King of Great Britain,) KAROLO EDVARDO - (to Charles Edward) ET HENRICO DECANO PATRVM CARDINALIVM - (and to Henry, Dean of the Cardinal Fathers) IACOBI III FILIIS - (sons of James III) REGIAE STIRPIS STVARDI POSTREMIS - (the last of the Royal House of Stuart) ANNO M DCCC XIX - (1819) BEATI MORTVI - (Blessed are the dead) QVI IN DOMINO MORIVNTVR - (who die in the Lord) 
Victorian print supposedly of Prince Charles in the Stewart tartan
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