The colours are very faded in this miniature of Queen Charlotte, which is a variant of another miniature of the Queen (RCIN 420000). Queen Charlotte is wearing the progressively rising hairstyle of the early 1770s and the original may be the portrait painted for her sister-in-law, Princess Charles of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in 1772.

Charlotte (1744–1818) was the second daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1708–52) and his wife, Elizabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1713–61). She married George III in 1761. 'She looks very sensible, cheerful, and is remarkably genteel', wrote Horace Walpole, the art historian and writer. It was a happy marriage, as their contemporary, Frances Burney, observed: 'Their behaviour to each other speaks the most cordial confidence and happiness … in their different ways, and allowing for the difference of their characters, they left me equally charmed both with their behaviour to each other and to myself'. They had 15 children.

The miniature is attributed to Jeremiah Meyer (1735-89) who was born in Germany where his father was portrait painter to the Duke of Württemberg. He came to England about 1749 and studied under the artist Christian Friedrich Zincke. Meyer was commissioned to paint the King's miniature portrait, set in an oval of diamonds in the pearl bracelet given to Princess Charlotte as an engagement present. He also drew the King's profile for the new coinage which earned him a gold medal from the Society of Arts in 1761. He was appointed Miniature Painter to the Queen and Enamel Painter to the King in 1764. A founder member of the Royal Academy, he exhibited miniatures, enamels and watercolour drawings from 1769 to 1783. When he died, according to a contemporary, Charlotte Papendiek, Meyer's widow sent his remaining miniatures, including portraits of the royal family, to the sitters without making a charge. The Queen was so pleased that 'she liberally rewarded Mrs Meyer for her honourable conduct'.

The miniature is set in a diamond ring engraved on the reverse: Queen Charlotte.