Prussia

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of the future William I, German Emperor (Part one)

The future William I, German Emperor, was born on 22 March 1797 as the second son of the future King Frederick William III and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He had an elder brother, the future King Frederick William IV, and two surviving younger brothers (Charles and Albert) and three surviving younger sisters (Charlotte, Alexandrine and Louise). [read more]
Countess Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Falkenburg-Dagsburg
Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg

Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg was born on 16 March 1729 at Heidesheim Castle as the daughter of Count Christian Karl Reinhard of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg and Countess Katharina Polyxena of Solms-Rödelheim und Assenheim. She had an elder brother, who died at the age of six and four younger sisters. As such, she was the heiress to [read more]
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The early years of Queen Louise (Part two)

Read part one here. Troubled times were coming, and soon the French revolutionary troops were advancing towards Mainz. Frankfurt was captured in October 1792, closely followed by Darmstadt. Louise wrote to Therese, “All of this can make one die of fear, and my fear-filled heart was close to bursting. We don’t know yet what the [read more]
queen louise of prussia
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The early years of Queen Louise (Part one)

On 10 March 1776, Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt, Duchess Charles of Mecklenburg-Strelitz gave birth to her sixth but third surviving child – a daughter named Louise. She had two elder surviving sisters, Charlotte and Therese. Her two younger surviving siblings were Frederica and her father’s heir, Georg. A younger half-brother named Charles joined the family in [read more]
Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, A sacred duty (Part seven)

Read part six here. On 26 June 1830, King George IV died and was succeeded by the Duke of Clarence, who became King William IV. The new King was not particularly fond of the Cumberlands. This relationship became even more strained when the Duke of Cambridge was appointed Viceroy of Hanover, rather than Ernest Augustus. [read more]
frederica of mecklenburg-strelitz
Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, An unwelcome guest (Part six)

Read part five here. Nevertheless, the new Duchess of Cumberland made her way to England and landed at Dover on 28 August. An Anglican wedding ceremony took place the following day at Carlton House, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Frederica wore a gold-embroidered white satin gown and a long train. It would be a [read more]