Queen Charlotte's Cottage is located in Kew Gardens, London. The cottage is over 300 years old and is located in a bluebell wood on the eastern side of the gardens. The rustic cottage was built by Queen Charlotte in the mid-1700s for George III, who had problems with his health. It was only used as a country retreat when the royal family wished to take walks in the countryside and gardens and have tea. Exotic animals were kept in the paddocks near here, such as pheasants, kangaroos, and oriental cattle. It is thought that the cottage was a favourite place for the king.
The cottage was used for the last time by the royal family in 1818 after the double wedding of William IV and Duke of Kent (who was the father of Queen Victoria). Queen Victoria gave the cottage and its grounds to the public to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee in 1898.
One of the room displays Hogarth's prints, pictured below.
A room upstairs was painted and designed by Queen Charlotte herself.
The cottage is only open at Bank Holidays and on weekends during the summer months, and it is closed for the winter.
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