Charlotte of Prussia

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Charlotte of Prussia: “The ideal of the Russian Tsarina” (Part four)

Read part three here. Life changed forever in December 1825. Nicholas’s elder brother, Emperor Alexander I, died on 1 December in the arms of his once-estranged wife. He had fallen ill during a trip to Crimea. The news arrived in St Petersburg on 9 December. Charlotte’s mother-in-law, Empress Maria Feodorovna, fainted upon hearing the news [read more]
Charlotte of Prussia

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Charlotte of Prussia: “Her soul resonates with ours” (Part three)

Read part two here. On 12 June 1817, Charlotte left Berlin with her brother, William. Her entire entourage consisted of 12 carriages, and Charlotte’s carriage alone was being pulled by eight horses. She had been told that Nicholas would meet her at the border, but he surprised her at Memel. When they finally reached the [read more]
The Royal Women

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Charlotte of Prussia: “The eldest daughter of the ideal, revered Queen” (Part two)

Read part one here. The siblings were placed in the care of Princess Maria Anna of Hesse-Homburg, who was married to their uncle, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, and who became the senior lady of the Prussian court after their mother’s death. Maria Anna, also known as Marianne, was affectionately called Aunt Minnetrost. The guardianship of [read more]
Charlotte of Prussia

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Charlotte of Prussia: “Your good little heart” (Part one)

On 13 July 1798, Queen Louise of Prussia gave birth to her second, but eldest surviving, daughter, who was named Charlotte. Louise’s chief lady-in-waiting wrote, “The child is healthy and beautiful, but the poor Queen was extremely weak.” Luckily. Louise recovered quickly, and Charlotte joined her brothers, Frederick William and William, in the nursery. Four [read more]