Princess Louise of Great Britain

Princess Louise of Great Britain

Princess Louise was born as the fifth daughter and youngest child of the then Prince and Princess of Wales, on 18th December 1724, at Leicester House, Westminster, London.

On 11th June 1727, when Louise was two years old, her grandfather, George I, died.
Her father ascended the throne as George II.

The family moved to St James’s Palace, the London residence of the British monarch.
Here Louise grew up, spending holidays at her parents’ summer residence Richmond Lodge, located near the River Thames in Richmond.

In 1737, when Louise was almost 13 years old, her mother Queen Caroline died.
Louise was then raised mainly by her older sister, Princess Caroline.

In 1743, a dynastic marriage was negotiated between Louise and Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway.

The marriage was proposed for political reasons, but on a more personal level, there were hopes that marriage would suppress the frequent drinking and debauched behaviour of the Crown Prince.

As for the Crown Prince, he was known for his love of women, and he had no intentions of settling down to a boring married life.

However, having been presented with the pretty princess, he declared her appealing and declared himself willing to marry Louise.

On 19th October, the 18 year old Princess Louise left London, and began her journey towards Copenhagen.

On 11th December 1743, their official wedding was held in the chapel of Christiansborg Palace.

Although the marriage was arranged, the couple got along quite well, and at least during the first years, their relationship was apparently amicable.

The couple had five children, of whom the eldest son, the heir to the throne Crown Prince Christian, did not survive infancy.

Although Frederick came to feel high regard for Louise, and always treated her with kindness, he reportedly was not in love with her and continued his debauched lifestyle.

If Louise was distressed by her husband’s behaviour she never showed it nor discussed the matter.

She pretended not to notice his adultery and random liaisons with numerous mistresses – or the fact he fathered several illegitimate children.

Louise quickly made herself popular in the Danish court, and she was met with great enthusiasm from the citizens of Copenhagen.

At the death of Christian VI on 6th August 1746, her husband ascended the throne as King Frederick V, and Louise became Queen of Denmark and Norway at the age of 21.

Frederick’s accession to the throne brought about a great change in life at the Danish court, which now became far more festive and acquired a more easy-going tone.

Almost as a sign of the new times, the heavy iron chains that had previously surrounded Christiansborg to keep the people at a distance disappeared.

Court life regained its lustre, and the palace’s halls and salons once again became the setting for balls and social gatherings.

Queen Louise was very popular in Denmark, and the great popularity of the royal couple has been attributed to Louise.

Louise had a vivacious personality, allowing her to socialise easily with others.
She was described as well educated and good at conversation, not stunningly beautiful but pretty, and very dignified.
She was well suited to her role as queen.

Louise became seriously ill with a pinched umbilical hernia while pregnant with her sixth child.

The court surgeon operated on her, but could not save her life, nor that of her unborn child.
She died at Christiansborg Palace on 19th December 1751, the day after her 27th birthday.

She had been married for just 8 years, 5 of those as queen.

The news of the popular queen’s death was met with dismay at court and sincere mourning among the people who had come to appreciate their queen immensely.

After lying in state with great pomp at the chapel at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, she was interred in Roskilde Cathedral on the island of Zealand
– the traditional burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century.