Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

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

Prince Albert of Prussia was born on 4 October 1809 as the fourth surviving son and youngest child of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia and King Frederick William III of Prussia. His elder siblings were the future Frederick William IV, King of Prussia; the future William I, German Emperor; Charlotte, the future Empress of [read more]
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Becoming a mother (Part three)

Read part two here. Augusta did have some difficulty adjusting to life at the Prussian court. However, she certainly wasn’t bored. To her sister-in-law, Louise, she wrote about her daily routine, “English, drawing, and music lessons. I get out of the drive every day; I ride often and also go to the theatre a great [read more]
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Facing her future with resignation (Part two)

Read part one here. While William may have acted positively toward Augusta’s parents, he wrote to his sister Charlotte, “The Princess is beautiful and clever, but she leaves me cold.” Augusta’s father made him wait several weeks before responding, “I confess to you that I will not say no if my daughter expresses her yes.” [read more]
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: “Independence of character” (Part one)

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was born on 30 September 1811 at three in the morning as the third, but second surviving child of Charles Frederick, the future Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. She was born in the Stadtschloss in Weimar. She had an elder sister, Princess Marie, and a younger [read more]
Auguste von Harrach

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Auguste von Harrach – “A sunny, gentle and kind old lady” (Part five)

Read part four here. Over the next few years, Auguste travelled to Switzerland several times. In 1844, Auguste moved into a house on the edge of Sanssouci Park, which is now called Villa Liegnitz. She was often visited by Princess Marie, the wife of her stepson, Prince Charles. While travelling in 1847, she received an [read more]
Auguste von Harrach

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Auguste von Harrach – The “little stepmother” (Part four)

Read part three here. Their last trip together took place in the summer of 1839. King Frederick William’s health declined quickly in the spring of 1840. Bishop Eylert, who had married the couple, wrote, “The ruler’s seventh decade was near, a high stage he had reached, when he began to age and visibly deteriorate. His [read more]