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]

louise of prussia
The Royal Women

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of Louise of Prussia (Part two)

Read part one here. Louise’s two daughters were taught French, German, and a little English and Russian. They also practised their painting, needlework and maths. They were given instruction in music by the director of the The Hague music school. Frederick had been unhappy with the way his nephews were being raised and was looking [read more]

louise of prussia netherlands
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of Louise of Prussia (Part one)

On 1 February 1808, Queen Louise gave birth to her penultimate child, a daughter who would be her namesake – Louise. It was Louise’s ninth pregnancy, but little Louise was her sixth surviving child. Queen Louise had been dreading childbirth as she had been stuck in Memel, where the house was too small and there [read more]