Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt

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

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]
Book News

Book News Week 34

*contains affiliate links* Book News Week 34 – 17 August – 23 August 2026 Agrippina the Younger: A Dangerous Woman in Rome’s Early Empire (Women in Antiquity) Paperback – 20 August 2026 (US) Queen Alexandra: The First People’s Princess: The Life and Legacy of Britain’s Iconic Queen Consort Through the Victorian and Edwardian Eras  Paperback [read more]
king olav gift tiara
Märtha Louise of Norway

King Olav’s Gift Tiara

This tiara was presented to Princess Märtha Louise of Norway on her 18th birthday by her grandfather, King Olav V of Norway. It has since been named as King Olav’s Gift Tiara. Embed from Getty Images The small diamond and pearl tiara has a modern wheat design. It was made by and bought from the [read more]
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Part one)

Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia, was close to all of her siblings, and her brother Georg was no exception. Georg was born on 12 August 1779 as the eighth child, but the eldest surviving son of the future Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his first wife, Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt. His full [read more]