Mecklenburg-Strelitz Archives - History of Royal Women

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt

Thursday, 20 August 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The future Queen Louise of Prussia was just six years old when her mother died following childbirth with her tenth child. Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt was born on 20 August 1752 as the eldest daughter of Prince George William of Hesse-Darmstadt, who was the second son of Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Countess Maria [read more]

Augusta of Cambridge – My old loving heart (Part five)

Monday, 4 May 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part four here. Mary, who also happened to be Marie’s cousin, supported Marie by publicly appearing with her, driving around. Her husband later wrote, “I certainly think the English relations have behaved better & are more sensible about it all. The parents are the worst and ought to be ashamed of themselves.” Augusta believed [read more]

Augusta of Cambridge – A contemporary of Queen Victoria (Part four)

Saturday, 2 May 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part three here. Augusta became very fond of her niece, Mary (the future Queen Mary), and Mary often wrote to her to keep her informed. The Teck family frequently had financial troubles and had been forced to spend some time on the continent to save money. By 1885, they were regularly back in England, [read more]

Augusta of Cambridge – The daughter of her mother (Part three)

Thursday, 30 April 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part two here. Frederick William and Augusta were now the reigning Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Researchers looking back at their reign would describe Frederick William as having a “pathological stinginess” which “hindered necessary investments in all areas.” However, he had inherited a considerable debt, which he managed to pay off within [read more]

Augusta of Cambridge – Dear, old England (Part two)

Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part one here. Augusta quickly fell pregnant, but their first child – a son – was stillborn. A second son was born two years later, but he did not survive his first birthday. Their third son, Adolphus Frederick, born on 22 July 1848, survived to adulthood. Shortly before his birth, Mary Adelaide wrote, “You [read more]

Augusta of Cambridge – An affectionate creature (Part one)

Monday, 27 April 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

On 19 July 1822, Princess Augusta of Cambridge was born as the second child and eldest daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, who was the seventh son of King George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. Her parents had married on 7 May 1818 in Kassel [read more]