CHARLOTTE

Mrs Wakelin, a young widow, was appointed Nanny to the Crown Princess' family in 1869 when the previous head nurse, Mrs Hobbs, left to get married. She was adored by all the family, who kept up with her for many years. In 1878 Charlotte married Bernhard, later Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, - whom she had picked for herself - and Mrs Wakelin stayed with them for the birth of their daughter Feo. There is strong evidence that Feo and Charlotte inherited porphyria, probably through the Crown Princess, which may account for Charlotte's later erratic behaviour. From a collection made by Mrs Wakelin's daughter Gertrude, who lived at Neues Palais with her and was the same age as Charlotte.