Charlotte studied medieval and modern history at Birmingham University and completed an MA thesis which explored the curious links between diplomacy, espionage and art collecting in the mid-seventeenth century.

Charlotte's writing career began in 1991 with Royal Digest (a magazine to which she was principal contributor throughout its 14-year existence before moving on to its successor, Royalty Digest Quarterly). Her books have included a biography of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and two books on the Russian imperial family. The lastest is 'Before Action: William Noel Hodgson and the 9th Devons - A Story of the Great War'.

Other areas in which Charlotte has an interest are miniature painting and model making, the literature of the First World War and the history of portraiture. Royal photography is another specialist area and Charlotte has a large collection of original photographs currently represented by the Illustrated London News Picture Library and the Mary Evans Picture Library.