Royal watch gift to be sold

A pocket watch presented to a Northumberland doctor by the daughter of King George IV is to be auctioned.
An 18ct Royal Presentation Georgian Pocket Watch by Barwise presented to Dr Roddam.An 18ct Royal Presentation Georgian Pocket Watch by Barwise presented to Dr Roddam.
An 18ct Royal Presentation Georgian Pocket Watch by Barwise presented to Dr Roddam.

Princess Charlotte of Wales presented the 18ct watch to her physician, Dr George Roddam, in 1816.

The Barwise watch, being sold on behalf of an anonymous vendor, is being auctioned by Featonby's Auctioneers & Valuers in North Shields on July 1.

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An estimate of £5,000 to £6,000 has been placed on the item but there has already been considerable interest and it could fetch more.

A pocket watch presented to Dr Roddam by Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of King George IV.A pocket watch presented to Dr Roddam by Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of King George IV.
A pocket watch presented to Dr Roddam by Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of King George IV.

The watch is inscribed ‘From Her Royal Highness THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES to Dr Roddam As a Mark of H.R.H Remembrance of his great attention & for the benefit H.R.H has derived from his professional advice. King Lodge WEYMOUTH JAN, 1th, 1816.’

Tragically, Princess Charlotte died following childbirth in November 1817, aged just 21.

She was the only child of King George IV, who was still Prince of Wales during her lifetime, and his wife Caroline of Brunswick.

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If she had outlived both her grandfather King George III and her father, she would have become Queen.

Dr Roddam was born at Fellhouse, Slaley, in 1774.

He entered the Navy as a surgeon in 1796 and served on various ships during the Napoleonic Wars. He was appointed surgeon on the royal yacht in 1812 and was Princess Charlotte’s physician in 1814-15. He was admitted as naval physician to King George IV in 1821 and was physician to Prince Leopold, widower of the princess.