the year of louise of mecklenburg-strelitz

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar

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

Thursday, 1 October 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0
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)

Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0
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)

Monday, 7 September 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0
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)

Saturday, 5 September 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0
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]
Auguste von Harrach

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Auguste von Harrach – “An expression of great modesty” (Part three)

Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0
Read part two here. Suspicion of the new Catholic Princess of Liegnitz ran high in Berlin. Strange rumours began to spread, including one that claimed that Auguste had been sold to the King by her parents. Auguste’s parents also received the displeasure of the public. It would take some time before Auguste would win the [read more]
Auguste von Harrach

The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Auguste von Harrach – “The chosen betrothed of the mighty lord” (Part two)

Monday, 31 August 2026, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0
Read part one here. The children were shocked, and “a palpable  sense of emotion was evident in every face; even the sons could not hold back their tears.” His daughter Charlotte was devastated but resigned herself to the situation. She wrote, “Princess Liegnitz has not introduced the slightest change into the course of daily life.” Her [read more]