Louise of Great Britain
| Louise of Great Britain | |
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| Louise of Great Britain, Queen of Denmark and Norway | |
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| Tenure | 6 August 1746 – 19 December 1751 |
| Spouse | Frederick V of Denmark |
| Issue | |
| Sophia Magdalena, Queen of Sweden Caroline, Electress of Hesse Christian VII of Denmark Louise, Princess Charles of Hesse-Kassel |
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| House | House of Oldenburg House of Hanover |
| Father | George II of Great Britain |
| Mother | Caroline of Ansbach |
| Born | 7 December 1724 (Old Style) Leicester House, London, England |
| Died | 19 December 1751 (aged 27) Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Burial | Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark |
Louise of Great Britain (7 December 1724 – 19 December 1751) was the youngest surviving daughter of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach, and became queen consort of Denmark and Norway.
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[edit] Early life
Princess Louise was born as the fifth daughter and youngest child of the then Prince and Princess of Wales, on 7 December 1724, at Leicester House, London. She was baptised "Louisa" there on 22 December.[1] Her godparents were her elder sister and two cousins: Princess Amelia of Great Britain, Princess Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (for whom Sarah Lennox, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, stood proxy), and Frederick, Prince Royal of Prussia, later Frederick the Great (for whom Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque, 1st Earl of Grantham, stood proxy).[1]
On 11 June 1727, when Louise was two years old, her grandfather, George I, died, and her father ascended the throne as George II.
[edit] Marriage
In a dynastic marriage, Louise wed Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway on 11 December 1743 at Altona, Holstein. Frederick's father, King Christian VI, hoped the marriage would lead to British support for his or his son's claim to the throne of Sweden.[2] The couple had five children, one of whom did not survive birth. Although the marriage was arranged, the couple got along quite well. Frederick was comfortable with her, and Louise pretended not to notice his adultery.
When her husband ascended the throne, on 6 August 1746, as Frederick V, Louise became Queen of Denmark and Queen of Norway.
Queen Louise was very popular in Denmark,[2] and it is estimated that her popularity also made her husband popular. Interested in music, dance and theatre, the royal court was given a more easy going tone than under her strictly religious parents-in-law. Louise had a vivacious personality, allowing her to easily socialize with others.[2] In 1747, she arranged for the Italian opera company of Pietro Mingotti to play at the royal court theatre, and in 1748, the French Du Londel Troupe was invited for dramatic performances. She was very appreciated for her effort to speak the Danish language, as the royal Danish court was mostly German to its language, and her effort to speak Danish with her children became much appreciated.[3] She was described as well educated and good at conversation, not beautiful but very dignified and well suited in her part as a queen.
[edit] Death
While pregnant with her sixth child, Louise died due to complications from a miscarriage on 19 December 1751, at Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, predeceasing her husband by fourteen years. She was buried at Roskilde Cathedral.
[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms
[edit] Titles and styles
- 7 December 1724 – 11 June 1727: Her Royal Highness Princess Louisa[1] of Wales
- 11 June 1727 – 11 December 1743: Her Royal Highness The Princess Louise
- 11 December 1743 – 6 August 1746: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark and Norway
- 6 August 1746 – 19 December 1751: Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark and Norway
[edit] Arms
On 30 August 1727, as a child of the sovereign, Louise was granted use of the arms of the realm, differenced by a label argent of three points, each bearing torteaux gules.[4]
[edit] Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Christian | Copenhagen, 7 July 1745 | Frederiksborg, 3 June 1747 | died in infancy |
| Sophia Magdalena, Queen of Sweden | 3 July 1746 | 21 August 1813 | married, 1766, Gustav III, King of Sweden; had issue |
| Caroline, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel | 10 July 1747 | 19 January 1820 | married, 1763, William I, Elector of Hesse; had issue |
| Christian VII | 29 January 1749 | 13 March 1808 | married, 1766, Caroline Matilda of Wales; had issue |
| Louise, Princess Charles of Hesse | 30 January 1750 | 12 January 1831 | married, 1766, Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel; had issue |
[edit] Ancestry
[edit] References
- ^ a b c The London Gazette refers to her as "Princess Louisa"
- ^ a b c Bregnsbo, p. 347.
- ^ Bregnsbo, p. 349.
- ^ Marks of Cadency in the British Royal Family
- Bibliography
- Bregnsbo, Michael (2004). "Danish Absolutism and Queenship: Louisa, Caroline Matilda, and Juliana Maria". In Campbell Orr, Clarissa. Queenship in Europe 1660-1815: The Role of the Consort. Cambridge University Press. pp. 344–367. ISBN 0521814227.
- Henry Churchyard "Royal Genealogies, Part 10"
- Sam Sloan "Big Combined Family Trees (pafg752)"
- (Danish)Louise, Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon
- (Danish)Louise, page 399, (Dansk biografisk Lexikon / X. Bind. Laale - Løvenørn) (1887-1905) Author: Carl Frederik Bricka
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Louise of Great Britain |
[edit] See also
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Louise of Great Britain
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 7 December 1724 Died: 19 December 1751 |
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| Royal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach |
Queen consort of Denmark 1746–1751 |
Succeeded by Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Queen consort of Norway 1746–1751 |
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