Separation of King Charles III and Queen Louise, April 3, 1784

Queen Louise retired to the Convent of the Bianchette in Via Giuseppe Guisti, December 9, 1780; she never saw her husband King Charles III again. For several years Charles engaged in unsuccessful attempts to restore their common life. In 1784, with the intervention of King Gustav III of Sweden, Charles agreed to Louise living separately.

A printed version of this text appears on page 110 of Herbert M. Vaughan's The Last Stuart Queen: Louise, Countess of Albany, Her Life & Letters (London: Duckworth, 1910).

We, Charles, legitimate King of Great Britain, on the representations made to us by Louise Caroline Maximilienne Emmanuele, Princess of Stolberg, that for sound reasons she wished to reside at a distance separated from our person; that circumstances as well as our common misfortunes have rendered this event useful and necessary for us both; and in consideration of all the arguments she has adduced to us, we declare by these presents that we freely and voluntarily give our consent to this separation, and that we do permit her to live from henceforth in Rome, or in any town she may consider most convenient, such being our pleasure.

Given and sealed with the seal of our arms in our Palace at Florence, April 3, 1784.