Augusta of Cambridge – The daughter of her mother (Part three)

Read part two here.

Frederick William and Augusta were now the reigning Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Researchers looking back at their reign would describe Frederick William as having a “pathological stinginess” which “hindered necessary investments in all areas.”¹ However, he had inherited a considerable debt, which he managed to pay off within six years of inheriting the throne. Despite their new roles, they would continue to spend time in England.

She was part of Queen Victoria’s family, but Victoria was wary of Augusta, who, according to her, “writes every little trifle to her mother who repeats it.”² Victoria’s daughter, the Princess Royal, who had just married Prince Frederick William of Prussia, agreed and wrote, “I am perfectly aware that she would write every thing home (besides she is the daughter of her mother) so she gets no details whatever of my ‘interieur’ from me.”³ Queen Victoria even described Augusta, her mother and sister as “three nameless fat ladies” who were rude.⁴

By 1863, Augusta’s 30-year-old sister Mary Adelaide was still unmarried. She was popular with the public, but her marital prospects were not promising, as she was known to be overweight. Her rescue, if you can call it that, came in the form of Queen Victoria, who presented her with several options of German princes. Even the Dutch Queen Sophie weighed in, “Poor Princess Mary. I pity her and no doubt she will end as her aunt did – a child and no husband” (an allusion to the rumours surrounding the daughters of King George III).⁵ Several years were to pass before she was presented with the idea of Francis of Teck, the son of Duke Alexander of Württemberg, from his morganatic marriage to Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde. Less than a month after Francis arrived in England, he and Mary Adelaide were formally engaged. Her mother was relieved, “I am happy to say I feel sure of dear Mary’s future happiness.”⁶ Mary Adelaide was also overjoyed, “How happy I am and with what confiding hope I can look forward to a future of bright promise as he is …. all I could wish.”⁷ From this marriage, the future Queen Mary was born, and she carried the name Augusta as one of her names.

Augusta and Mary Adelaide’s brother was a different story. He had married in 1847 to Sarah Fairbrother. This marriage was legally void as it was in contravention of the 1772 Royal Marriages Act. Sarah was not allowed to style herself as Duchess of Cambridge, and their three sons carried the last name FitzGeorge. The Duke’s mother never recognised or received Sarah, but she did leave £5,000 to each of them in her will.⁸

While on a visit to Augusta in 1873, her mother suffered a stroke and was paralysed for a time. She managed to recover some functions, but she was severely limited by the aftereffects of the stroke for the rest of her life. The trip back to England was forty hours long, and she “suffered terribly.”⁹ In 1875, Queen Victoria wrote to her daughter, “I went with Baby to see Aunt Cambridge who really in her face looks quite unaltered as to expression and mind – only so venerable and nice in a little white cap, her hair quite white and the dark eyebrows also very nearly so – so that the severity of the expression is all gone. She is quite helpless and one arm all but powerless.”¹⁰

In 1877, Victoria, by then Crown Princess of Prussia, wrote to her mother, “Is it not rather cold and uncivil of Augusta to pass through here, have her dinner in the royal apartment at the station, send for Lord Odo Russell and never let me know, either that she is coming or that she would like to see me? This she does each time, and I think it is so rude. Especially considering how kind we are to Adolphus, whom Fritz had with him during the war, and also considering she is a German Grand Duchess, and lastly, that I have nothing to do with politics, nor am I responsible for any occurrence which is disagreeable to her feelings; and I always remain her cousin! If she did not pass through here, of course, one would not say anything. I must say it does hurt my feelings.”¹¹ Augusta was known for her hatred of Prussia, which she called, “the enemy.”¹² Augusta certainly had a complicated relationship with her cousin Queen Victoria and her children.

Nevertheless, Augusta considered London to be her home and always felt like she was missing out when she was in Neustrelitz. She loved to follow politics and was an ardent Tory. She loved the opera and wrote that about “my happy youth, all the delight of that grand opera-time, which I so truly enjoyed more than anything else, and I did ‘adore’ Grisi and Mario (on the stage, not otherwise).”¹³ In Strelitz, she oversaw the production of several Italian works at the opera house. She also loved reading French memoirs.

On 17 April 1877, Augusta’s son, Adolphus Frederick, married Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt, and just ten months later, their first child was born. It was a daughter named Marie. Another daughter, Jutta, followed in 1880. The longed-for heir, the future Adolphus Frederick VI, was born in 1882, followed by a second son, Karl Borwin, in 1888. Elisabeth became devoted to Augusta and Frederick William, even though Frederick William was quite strict with her. Augusta and Elisabeth bonded over their love for music and theatre. They even visited a historical drama based on the life of Queen Louise of Prussia together. However, Augusta overshadowed her daughter-in-law, and Elisabeth’s husband was far from faithful.

Part four coming soon.

1. Herzoghaus Mecklenburg-Strelitz by Helmut Borth p.153
2. Dearest Child edited by Roger Fulford p.46
3. Dearest Child edited by Roger Fulford p.50
4. Dearest Child edited by Roger Fulford p.259
5. The People’s Princess by S.W. Jackman p.98-99
6. The People’s Princess by S.W. Jackman p.107
7. The People’s Princess by S.W. Jackman p.107
8. The People’s Princess by S.W. Jackman p.44
9. The People’s Princess by S.W. Jackman p.133
10. Darling Child edited by Roger Fulford p.173
11. Dearest Child edited by Roger Fulford p.248-249
12. Dearest Child edited by Roger Fulford p.249
13. Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy p.84