Royal Museums Greenwich Incorrectly Claims Queen Charlotte Was Britain's First Royal "Person of Colour"

The Royal Museums Greenwich's LGBT audio guide has made an incorrect claim that Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, was Britain's first royal "person of colour". The audio guide, created by a self-declared "homosexual historian", states that the "insecure white boys writing history" have conveniently forgotten to mention Queen Charlotte's ethnicity due to "structural racism".

However, this claim is not supported by historical evidence or consensus. The assertion that Queen Charlotte was a person of color is based on a single passage from a German diplomat's memoir, written decades after her birth. Historians widely agree that Queen Charlotte was white, and there is no credible evidence to suggest otherwise.

The Royal Museums Greenwich has acknowledged that the audio guide was intended to be a "light-hearted" performance piece and was not fact-checked by its staff before being made available to the public. The inaccurate claim about Queen Charlotte's ethnicity has sparked criticism and raised concerns about the museum's vetting process for historical information presented to visitors.

Why this matters: The spread of misinformation, even in well-respected cultural institutions, can have significant consequences on public understanding of history. It is essential for museums and educational organizations to ensure the accuracy of the information they present, especially when it pertains to sensitive topics such as race and identity.

In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for the Royal Museums Greenwich stated, "We acknowledge that the claim made in the audio guide about Queen Charlotte's ethnicity was not properly fact-checked and does not align with the historical consensus. We apologize for any confusion or misinformation this may have caused and are taking steps to review and update the content of our audio guides to ensure accuracy." The museum has also emphasized its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion through its exhibitions and programs, while maintaining a dedication to historical accuracy and scholarly research.

Key Takeaways

• Royal Museums Greenwich's LGBT audio guide made inaccurate claim about Queen Charlotte's ethnicity.
• Claim that Queen Charlotte was Britain's first royal "person of color" is not supported by historical evidence.
• Museum acknowledged the claim was not fact-checked and does not align with historical consensus.
• Spread of misinformation in cultural institutions can have significant consequences on public understanding of history.
• Museum apologized for the confusion and is taking steps to review and update the content of its audio guides.