Frederica Charlotte of Prussia was born on 7 May 1767 as the only child of the future King Frederick William II of Prussia and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Her parents’ marriage was particularly unhappy, and both of them had sought love outside of the marriage. But while Frederick William’s exploits were ignored, Elisabeth Christine’s caused outrage. Even Elisabeth Christine’s mother wrote to Frederick William’s uncle, the reigning King Frederick II of Prussia, “You cannot imagine the infinite pain I feel upon learning from you the outrageous circumstances surrounding my daughter’s behaviour. I am despairing that she has so forgotten herself as to allow herself to be carried away by such baseness and indignities that dishonour her and will be an eternal stain on the family’s honour.”1
King Frederick decided to dissolve the marriage of his heir in April 1769, and Frederica Charlotte’s mother was exiled from Berlin. She would never see her daughter again and died in Stettin in 1840 at the age of 93. Little Frederica was placed in the care of her paternal grandmother, Luise, who was known as Princess Augustus William of Prussia. After her grandmother’s death in 1780, she was raised by King Frederick II’s wife, Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern.
King Frederick wrote to his wife that he was in need of a foster mother for Frederica. He wrote, “There is still this poor child who has been left… and now can find asylum with you. You would do a great favour for me if you would care for her, just as her passed-on grandmother did up to now. You can easily imagine the reason which I have, to bring this business to an end. The apartments in the [Berlin] castle do not offer any difficulties, and one could under the pretense of attachment, which you have felt for the dead Princess, guide into the paths…”2 A few days later, he added, “After I had surveyed the castle, I have… found the rooms… which one could give to the little one… I shall have them made ready so the little one can move into it tomorrow.”3
Frederica’s father had remarried just six months after the divorce from her mother to Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt. It was said that she was “an amiable, virtuous, and pleasing woman, possessing, indeed, neither the personal attractions nor the graces of her predecessor, but exempt from her errors and defects. She is of the middle size, her countenance agreeable, though not handsome, her manners easy and engaging, her character estimable and formed to excite universal respect.”4 She fulfilled her primary duty quickly, and Frederica gained a half-brother, the future King Frederick William III, on 3 August 1770. Three more sons and two daughters, including Wilhelmina, the future Queen of the Netherlands, followed.
On 17 August 1786, Frederick the Great died at the age of 74, and he was succeeded by Frederica’s father, who was now King Frederick William II of Prussia.
In May 1791, Prince Frederick, the second son of King George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, travelled to Berlin to court Frederica. The Prince had been created Duke of York and Albany in 1784. They had met several times before at the court of her uncle, King Frederick, known as The Great. From Berlin he wrote to his old tutor, General Grenville, “You knew for many years that the Princess Frederique has been a flame of mine, and you will not forget that when we left Berlin four years ago I the told you that I should be very glad to marry her if it could be brought about. The different events that have happened during the last four years have hindered me till now from declaring myself, but still I can safely say I never lost sight of my object… I have no doubt of being perfectly happy. The Princess is the best girl that ever existed, and the more I see of her, the more I like her.”5
Their wedding took place at Charlottenburg Palace on 29 September 1791. It was reported, “About six o’clock, all persons who were of princely blood assembled in gala, in the apartment of the dowager queen, where the diamond crown was put on the head of the Princess Frederica. […] In the White Hall, a canopy was erected of crimson velvet, beneath which was a sofa of the same kind for the marriage ceremony. When the young couple had placed themselves under the canopy, before the sofa, with the royal family around them, the upper counsellor of the consistory, M. Von Sack, made a speech in German. This being done, rings were exchanged, and the illustrious couple, kneeling on the sofa, were married according to the rites of the Lutheran church. The whole ended with a prayer; and twelve guns, placed in the garden, having fired three rounds, the benediction was given; after which the newly-married couple received the congratulations of their royal relatives. […] The Duke of York wore on this happy day the English uniform, and the Princess Frederica was dressed in a suit of drap d’argent, ornamented with diamonds. “6
Reports reached England that the couple “were deeply in love and talked of nothing but retiring to England, ‘and living with and for each other.'”7 Her new husband had reportedly spent £20,000 on jewels for her.8 The new Duchess of York received much praise from her sister-in-law, Charlotte, Princess Royal, who described her as a “charming little woman.”9 And they became close friends.
- Friedrich der Große und seine Schwestern by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.138
- Elisabeth and Fritz: a marriage in the bloods royal market bu Jeanne Cummins p.85
- Elisabeth and Fritz: a marriage in the bloods royal market by Jeanne Cummins p.85
- Memoirs of the Queens of Prussia by Emma Willsher Atkinson p.300
- The Noble Duke of York: The Military Life of Frederick Duke of York and Albany by Alfred Burne p.33
- A Biographical Memoir of His Late Royal Highness Frederick, Duke of York and Albany by John Watkins p.170-172
- Princesses by Flora Fraser p.139
- Princesses by Flora Fraser p.140
- Princesses by Flora Fraser p.140
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