Will of Queen Caroline
The will of Queen Caroline was drawn up by her directions on Sunday, the 5th day of August, 1821, within a few days of her death. It appears that on this same day she sent for the undertaker, by name Busch, to measure her for her coffin. Finding he did not come, she, a second time, ordered a servant to go for him, and then gave precise orders desiring it might be made of cedar-wood, and that it should bear this inscription:
CAROLINE OF BRUNSWICK,
Born 17th May, 1768,
Died 7th August, 1821.
Aged 54.
The outraged Queen of England.
This desire she again mentioned by a special codicil to her will.
As the remains of this princess were to be buried at Brunswick, on the arrival of the coffin at Colchester, it was deposited in the chapel for the night, with a guard of honor to watch it. During this time, it appears, the executors, and some others who formed the cortège in attendance—Lord Hood, Sir Robert Wilson, Count Vassali, Messrs. Lushington, Wilde, and others—managed to introduce themselves into the chapel by night, and caused the plate in question to be nailed on.
On the following morning, however, much to the discomfiture of these gentlemen, and notwithstanding their protestations, this was removed and was replaced by the following, drawn up by an heraldic council and approved by the Government:
“Depositum serenissimæ principissæ Carolinæ Ameliæ Elizabethæ, Dei gratiâ reginæ consortis augustissimæ, potentissimi monarchæ Georgii quarti, Dei gratiâ Britanniarum regis, fidei defensoris, regis Hanovriæ ac Brunsvici et Luneburgi ducis. Obiit vii. die mensis Augusti, Anno Domini mdcccxxi. ætatis liv.”
And it so remains.
Will of Lord Chesterfield