The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The early years of Queen Louise (Part two)

Read part one here.

Troubled times were coming, and soon the French revolutionary troops were advancing towards Mainz. Frankfurt was captured in October 1792, closely followed by Darmstadt. Louise wrote to Therese, “All of this can make one die of fear, and my fear-filled heart was close to bursting. We don’t know yet what the hordes of robbers are after; they are about a 12-hour walk from us. If they march towards Darmstadt and if there is the slightest hint of danger, we will flee. God knows where and when.”¹ The family initially sought refuge in Hildburghausen with Charlotte.

Despite the war, Frederica and Louise travelled to Frankfurt in March 1793 when it became clear that the Prussian King, who was stationed there, was looking for two brides for his two sons, Crown Prince Frederick William and Prince Louis. The girls’ father was not enthusiastic about the match, but King Frederick William II of Prussia was delighted with the sisters. He wrote, “When I first saw the two angels, I was so struck by their beauty that I was completely beside myself when the grandmother presented them to me.”² The King left the choice between the two princesses to his eldest son. The Crown Prince found it challenging to decide and consulted Louis, who showed no interest in either of the girls. He had a mistress in Berlin whom he intended to keep. Frederick William wrote, “I actually liked both princesses very much, without actually being in love with them. Both were quite pretty, had a pleasant tone, and, judging by their appearance, seemed to be nothing short of inferior to one another.”³ In the end, the Crown Prince settled on Louise, leaving Frederica for Louis.

On 19 March 1793, Frederick William asked Louise to be his wife, and their engagement was announced on 24 March. Louise was delighted and wrote to Therese, “You cannot believe, dear Therese, how pleased I am. The prince is extraordinarily good and straightforward. His speeches are not accompanied by an unnecessary swarm of words, but are astonishingly truthful. In short: I have nothing left to wish for, because I like the prince.”⁴

Frederica knew nothing of the mistress in Berlin at first and hoped for a happy marriage. She wrote to her father on 20 March 1793, “The prince has an excellent heart, from everything I’ve heard of him, a great deal of reason, and he is handsome. Do you doubt, dear father, if I will be happy?”⁵ The Crown Prince had noticed his brother’s behaviour towards his bride and wrote, “My brother was and remains very cold towards his bride.”⁶ He became very protective of Frederica.

Frederica was perhaps most delighted that a marriage with Louis would allow her to remain by her sister’s side. She wrote to her father, “Also think how happy we are about the fulfilment of our wishes, that we, sisters and best friends, can sweeten our lives for each other every day.”⁷

After the execution of Queen Marie Antoinette of France in October 1793, Louise’s family went into mourning, and she wrote to her fiancé, “I have clearly recognised the French manner in the beheading of the unfortunate Queen. This death makes one shudder; her rage has not yet cooled, for there are still two poor innocents [the children of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI] to be killed. It is truly cruel. We are all dressed in black for six weeks, you wouldn’t recognise me.”⁸

On 21 December 1793, the two sisters arrived in Potsdam, accompanied by their grandmother and their brother, Georg. He later noted in his diary that they were “bathed in flowers.”⁹ The next day, they travelled to Berlin in a golden carriage drawn by eight horses. On 24 December, it was Louise’s turn to be married. A lady-in-waiting wrote, “Wedding day of the Crown Princess. She dined with her grandmother and us ladies; then she dressed and went to the Queen at 6 o’clock to have her diadem fastened. The ceremony was in the White Hall, followed by the traditional festivities, the torchlit dance, etc.”¹⁰

A cousin of Frederick William and Louis, Princess Louise (later the wife of Prince Antoni Radziwiłł) wrote, “Never before or since have I seen such a delightful being as the Crown Princess. Her gentleness and modesty, combined with her noble beauty, won everyone’s heart.”¹¹ Two days later, Frederica married Prince Louis. Their lives together could now begin.

1. Luise, die Königin and ihre geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.69
2. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.33
3. Luise, die Königin and ihre geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.139
4. Luise, die Königin and ihre geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.139
5. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.33
6. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.35
7. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.35
8. Luise, die Königin and ihre geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.68
9. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.44
10. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.46
11. Luise, die Königin and ihre geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.142