Duke Adolphus (Netflix)

## Duke Adolphus

**Duke Adolphus** is the duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and brother of Queen Charlotte.

## History

### Charlotte's Wedding

Adolphus struck a deal to marry his sister, Charlotte, to the King of England. Then he and Charlotte traveled together to London for the wedding. He told her it was an honor to be chosen to marry the king, but she didn't think of it as an honor and asked to go home. He told her she couldn't because he'd already signed the betrothal contract.

Adolphus accompanied Charlotte to meet Princess Augusta, the king's mother. When their meeting was over, Adolphus told her she'd done well.

When Charlotte disappeared right before the ceremony, Adolphus searched for her only to find her in the garden with King George, who informed him that Charlotte was deciding if she was going to marry him or go over the garden wall. Charlotte decided to go through with the wedding and Adolphus walked her down the aisle. After the ceremony, Adolphus wished her well and said he'd pray that they were blessed with children soon then left to return home.

### Charlotte's Letter

Adolphus returned to the palace when Charlotte sent him a letter expressing that she wanted to go back home with him. He told her that she couldn't because she was with child and the baby was the much-anticipated heir. Leaving would be treasonous and kidnapping. She was resigned to her fate because he'd used her marriage to forge an alliance with Great Britain.

When Queen Charlotte disappeared from the palace one day, Duke Adolphus was upset with Brimsley for allowing her to slip away. They eventually learned she was at Lady Danbury's and brought her back home. Duke Adolphus told her she was the Queen of England so she needed to act like it.

### Courting Lady Danbury

Adolphus returned to London when Queen Charlotte was due to give birth. While he was there, he asked the recently-widowed Lady Danbury if he could call on her and she said she'd like that. During one of their visits, Adolphus said his nephew was born and his business was finished, so he'd be going back home. Lady Danbury said she'd see him on his next visit, but he said he wanted her to come back with him as his wife. He knew it was quick, but felt they could be happy together. He told her to think about it and he'd wait for her answer.

At the ball thrown by King George and Queen Charlotte to introduce Prince George, Adolphus found Lady Danbury hiding away from the crowd. She asked him what their lives would be like if they married and she went back to Germany with him. He said she'd have duties and she'd have to learn the language. And she'd have to have more children, so he could have an heir, though he pledged to raise the Danbury children as his own. Lady Danbury said no, she couldn't marry him because she couldn't marry anyone. She said he was a wonderful man, but she could never marry again after spending her whole life breathing someone else's air. She needed to learn to be on her own and be herself. He told her she was making a mistake. She said she might be, but it was her mistake to make.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/queen-charlotte-bridgerton-children-family-tree
2. ↑ Queen to Be, 1x01 (QC)
3. ↑ Gardens in Bloom, 1x05 (QC)
4. ↑ Crown Jewels, 1x06 (QC)