The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: A “family of democrats” (Part five)

Read part four here.

During this time, there was some discussion of a forcible change of ruler, and Augusta was considered a possible regent for her son, who was still underage. Augusta’s thoughts on this plan remain a mystery, as she later destroyed all her letters from those days. In the end, the King promised reforms and the plan was abandoned.¹

From London, William wrote to his sister, “A completely new future lies before us. The past is irretrievably lost.”² William spent his time in exile enjoying the hospitality of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.³ Augusta tried to keep his spirits up by writing encouraging letters. She wrote, ” I have never been so lovingly devoted to you as in these times of misfortune. I am proud to share the same fate with you.”⁴ In June 1848, William was able to return home as long as he promised to stay out of the day-to-day politics.⁵ The King was offered the title of Emperor, which he refused. Augusta supported his decision and wrote, “I am against accepting the title of Emperor; this would only exacerbate the difficulties.”⁶

In the spring of 1850, in order to give the heir to the throne something to do, William was appointed as Governor and General of the 8th Regiment in Koblenz. Despite their shaky relationship, Augusta joined William in Koblenz. Louise came with them to Koblenz, but Fritz was enrolled at the University of Bonn.⁷ Augusta had wanted to devote herself to charitable work since her arrival in Berlin, and now she finally had the chance to. She began to support several organisations and visited the Dominican nuns at the Arenberg monastery.⁸ By doing this, she also found herself popular with the people for the first time.⁹ However, she was also criticised for being too openly tolerant of the Catholic church.¹⁰

In April 1851, Augusta and her family were invited to England for the opening of the Grand Exhibition. William had wanted to decline, fearing assassination, but he was eventually convinced to come by Prince Albert.¹¹ They arrived there on 29 April, and this was the first time that the 19-year-old Fritz met the 10-year-old Princess Royal. Queen Victoria wrote to Augusta the following months, “Those four weeks will always be a pleasant, happy memory for me. With all my heart, I reciprocate the feelings of love, friendship and attachment which you so touchingly express in your two letters. A true and lasting friendship demands not only similarity of character, but also a sympathetic agreement upon the serious aspects of life, particularly in regard to politics and religion; and I have found this in you. Our sympathatiers, our opinions, our hearts agree so well that I cannot tell you how refreshing and pleasant your company has been and how much I miss you on that account!”¹²

At Koblenz, a moderate liberal circle formed around William and Augusta.¹³ The Berlin court watched these developments and spoke disparagingly of the “family of democrats” in Koblenz. In 1854, this would lead to another serious falling out between the King and his heir. However, by the time of their silver wedding anniversary in June 1854, this quarrel seemed to have been resolved.¹⁴

During her time in Koblenz, Augusta also developed the first symptoms of what would prove to be rheumatism. She began visiting Baden-Baden, hoping that the milder climate would ease the pain in her joints. She would go on to spend her birthday there every year. The visits to Baden-Baden also helped her become closer to the Grand Ducal family of Baden-Baden. Frederick, then regent for his brother Louis II, Grand Duke of Baden, asked for the hand of her daughter, Louise, immediately after her confirmation in 1855.¹⁵ In the summer of 1856, Augusta went to stay with Queen Victoria again. When she returned, she was busy with the preparations for Louise’s wedding, which took place on 20 September 1856.¹⁶

Augusta was sad to see her daughter married. William wrote to his sister, “The great step has thus been taken. And as all parents feel when they send their daughter away from home, so we feel it too. […] Of course, it is visibly the mother who is most affected, and given her passion in all matters of feeling, it is understandable that her melancholy outweighs her joy.”¹⁷ Louise fell pregnant quickly, and she gave birth to her first child, a son, on 9 July 1857, making Augusta a grandmother for the first time. Two more children followed: Victoria, later Queen of Sweden, and Prince Ludwig. Augusta remained close to Louise, and during her stay in Baden-Baden, she was usually joined by her daughter.¹⁸

In October 1857, King Frederick IV had a stroke, and he was declared unable to perform the duties of a King. Augusta’s husband was appointed regent for his brother for 12 months. This meant that Augusta and William had to return to Berlin. Observers noted that Augusta became a lot more demanding and difficult for those around her. Her son wrote that she was “influenced by such fluctuating moods. […] She is too autocratic a character to put up any length of time with not having a say in everything now.”¹⁹

In January 1858, Augusta and William travelled to London with their son for his wedding to the Princess Royal. On 25 January 1858, the wedding took place in the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace. In theory, Victoria, Princess Royal, was very similar to Augusta, with her liberal ideas, and they seemed to get along at first. However, this would soon fade.

Part six coming soon.

1. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.143
2. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.146
3. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.146
4. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.147
5. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.148
6. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.152
7. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.157
8. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.159
9. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.160
10. The first German Empress by John Van Der Kiste p.38
11. The first German Empress by John Van Der Kiste p.38
12. The first German Empress by John Van Der Kiste p.39
13. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.170
14. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.172
15. The first German Empress by John Van Der Kiste p.42-43
16. The first German Empress by John Van Der Kiste p.43
17. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.177
18. Augusta by Karin Feuerstein-Praßer p.180
19. The first German Empress by John Van Der Kiste p.44