Henry Edridge, A.R.A.

Princess Augusta Sophia, the sixth child and second daughter of George III and Queen Charlotte, was born at Buckingham House on 8^th November 1777. A shy, retiring child, she was close to her sister Elizabeth and was happiest staying at home. She corresponded frequently with her brother William whilst he was on military service, and they exchanged presents. In 1797 she received a marriage proposal from Prince Frederick of Sweden, which her parents did not approve. She became close to Sir Brent Spencer, a galant Anglo-Irish officer who served with Wellington in the Peninsular War and had been made equerry to King George in 1805. It was rumoured that they were secretly married in private.

Another version of this drawing, identified as of Princess Augusta, was acquired in 1947 from Walkers Galleries for the Royal Collection. Whilst the identities of sitters in Edridge's drawings of the royal princesses are not always certain, a distinct feature of this drawing which it shares with two other drawings by Edridge is the anchor pendant which Augusta wears in her portrait by Beechey. It was probably an allusion to her closeness to her naval brother William.