HMY Charlotte was an English royal yacht built for the Royal Navy. It was named Charlotte by Charles II in honour of his illegitimate daughter Charlotte Fitzroy.
Construction Charlotte was built by Phineas Pett in Woolwich Dockyard in 1677 at an estimated cost of £2973 12d, of which £500 was paid directly by Charles II. The figurehead depicted a female figure crowned by angels, presumably a depiction of the ship's namesake.
Carving work was carried out by Joseph Leadman and Joseph Helby, and valued at £507 8s 6d. Gilding, painting, and upholstery also came at a significant expense. Paintings were commissioned for a sum total of £77 from Willem van de Velde the Elder and Willem van de Velde the Younger, both of whom were kept on retainer by Charles II for annual pensions of £100.
The expenses incurred on Charlotte were a source of tension between Charles II and the Admiralty.
Career Charlotte was seaworthy by 4 November 1677, on which date she took Princess Mary and her new husband William of Orange across the English Channel.
Charlotte was listed for sale in 1710, but no buyer was found. Instead she was rebuilt by Joseph Allin at Deptford Dockyard, and renamed Princess Charlotte. She was renamed twice more – as Augusta in 1761, and as Princess Augusta (for Princess Augusta Sophia) in 1773. She was eventually sold in 1818. + Service history of HMY Charlotte Date(s) Captain Station Actions/Events 1677 Ralph Saunderson - - 16821686 J. Clements - - 1689 Andrew Cotton Guernsey - 16901703 J. Robinson - - 16941701 Thomas Marks - - 17021709 G. Breholt Ireland - 1710 - - Rebuilt at Deptford 17151725 Joseph Banaster In the Baltic 1720 - 1726 H. Holmes - - 17271736 William Bridges - - 17371738 W. Parry - - 17391740 C.W. Purvis - - 1741 J. Willyams - - 17421743 Robert Allen - - 17461750 Richard Edwards - - 17521754 E. Pratten - - 1755 J. Bentley - - 1756 J. Lendrick; Robert Mann (November) - - 17571761 C. Wray - - 1751 J. Campbell - -
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