Difference between revisions of "Queen Augusta Sophia of Friskland"
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| − | In 1798, after reluctant agreement from her father, Augusta accepted the marriage proposal of the then-[[Henrik IV of Friskland|Crown Prince Henrik of | + | In 1798, after reluctant agreement from her father, Augusta accepted the marriage proposal of the then-[[Henrik IV of Friskland|Crown Prince Henrik of Friskland]], who was her second cousin. The couple were married on July 12, 1798 in [[Jättenholm]]. |
Henrik and Augusta had five children: | Henrik and Augusta had five children: | ||
Revision as of 21:44, 15 February 2019
| Augusta Sophia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Augusta Sophia in 1819. | |
| Queen consort of Friskland | |
| Reign | 14 September 1808 - 29 October 1839 |
| Coronation | 30 May 1809 |
| Predecessor | Ingeborg |
| Successor | Anna Maria |
| Spouse | Henrik IV of Friskland |
| Issue Detail |
Princess Charlotte Princess Alice Carl Vilhelm IV Princess Alexandra Prince Henrik |
| Full name | |
| Augusta Sophia | |
| House | Hanover (by birth) Gyllenborg (by marriage) |
| Father | George III of the United Kingdom |
| Mother | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Born | 8 November 1768 London, England |
| Died | 22 September 1840 (aged 71) London, England |
Queen Augusta Sophia of Friskland (born Princess Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom; 8 November 1768 - 22 September 1840) was Queen consort of Friskland, as the wife of King Henrik IV of Friskland. She was the sixth child and second daughter of George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Early life
Princess Augusta Sophia was born at Buckingham House, London, the sixth child and second daughter of George III (1738–1820) and his wife Queen Charlotte. Her father so much wanted the new baby to be a girl that the doctor presiding over the labor thought fit to protest that "whoever sees those lovely Princes above stairs must be glad to have another." The King was so upset by this view he replied that "whoever sees that lovely child the Princess Royal above stairs must not wish to have the fellow to her." To the King's delight, and the Queen's relief, the baby was a small and pretty girl.
The young princess was christened on 6 December 1768, by Frederick Cornwallis, The Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Great Council Chamber at St. James's Palace. Her godparents were Prince Charles of Mecklenburg (her maternal uncle, who was visiting England), The Queen of Denmark (her paternal aunt, for whom The Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven, Mistress of the Robes to The Queen, stood proxy) and The Hereditary Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (her paternal aunt, for whom The Duchess of Northumberland, Lady of the Bedchamber to The Queen, stood proxy).
Princess Augusta was the middle of the elder trio of princesses that consisted of her, her older sister Charlotte (born 1766) and her younger sister Elizabeth (born 1770). In 1771, the two elder Princesses started traveling to Kew to take lessons under the supervision of Lady Charlotte Finch and Miss Frederica Planta. The Princesses, who had formerly been very close to their brothers now saw little of them, except when their paths crossed on daily walks. In 1774, Martha Goldsworthy, or "Gouly" became the new head of their educations. The Princesses learned typically feminine pursuits, such as deportment, music, dancing, and arts, but their mother also ensured that they learned English, French, German, Geography, and had well-educated governesses.
The young Augusta was a great favorite with Miss Planta, who called her "the handsomest of all the Princesses" though compared to her older sister, she was "childish". However, the princess was painfully shy, and stammered when in front of people she didn't know. From an early age Augusta was fixed on being good and was often upset when she did not succeed. Her behaviour veered in between troublesome and well-mannered. She sometimes threw tantrums and hit her governesses, though she also often had a calm disposition and family-minded ways. She strongly disliked the political tensions that by 1780 had sprung up between her elder brothers and their parents, and preferred to occupy herself with her coin collection. As all her sisters were, Augusta was sheltered from the outside world so much that her only friends were her attendants, with whom she kept up a frequent correspondence.
In 1782, Augusta had her debut into society at the King's birthday celebrations. As she was still terrified of crowds, her mother did not tell her daughter about her debut until two days before it happened. Later that year, the Princess's youngest brother, Alfred, died, followed eight months later by her next youngest brother, Octavius. When the Princesses went to see the summer exhibition in 1783 at the Royal Academy, they were so distraught by the portraits of their two youngest brothers that they broke down and cried in front of everyone. In August 1783 came the birth of Augusta's youngest sibling, Amelia. She stood as a godmother, along with Charlotte and George. Although the birth of her sister did not erase the pain she felt at losing her brothers, Augusta did not dwell on their deaths as her father did.
By the time they reached their teens, the three eldest Princesses were spending a great deal of time with their parents. They accompanied them to the theater, to the Opera, and to Court, and their once academic lessons began to wind down, with music and the arts becoming the new focus. They heard famous actresses such as Sarah Siddons read, and along with Charlotte and their parents, Augusta met John Adams when he was presented to the Queen. The three girls were always dressed alike at public functions, the only difference ever in their dresses being color. Though so often displayed in public, Augusta still was happiest at home, where she adored her younger brothers Ernest, Augustus, and Adolphus. She was also extremely close to her sister Elizabeth, as Charlotte was often haughty and overly conscious of her position as Princess Royal.
Marriage and children
In 1798, after reluctant agreement from her father, Augusta accepted the marriage proposal of the then-Crown Prince Henrik of Friskland, who was her second cousin. The couple were married on July 12, 1798 in Jättenholm.
Henrik and Augusta had five children:
- Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Friskland (Charlotte Melita Louisa; 24 July 1799 - 13 October 1845)
- Her Royal Highness Princess Alice of Friskland (Alice Augusta Sophia; 10 November 1800 - 20 November 1867)
- Carl Vilhelm IV of Friskland (Carl Vilhelm August Göran; 21 June 1802 - 9 March 1861)
- Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Friskland (Alexandra Caroline Dorothea; 4 August 1804 - 21 January 1859)
- His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Friskland (Henrik Frederik Octavius Alfred; 19 December 1806 - 11 September 1871)
Titles and styles
- 8 November 1768 - 12 July 1798: Her Royal Highness The Princess Augusta Sophia
- 12 July 1798 - 14 September 1808: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Friskland
- 14 September 1808 - 29 October 1839: Her Majesty the Queen
- 29 October 1839 - 22 September 1840: Her Majesty Queen Augusta Sophia
