Birth of Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia
Princess Frederica Charlotte was a Prussian princess by birth.
Frederica Charlotte became a British princess by marriage, as the wife of Prince Frederick – the second son of King George III and Queen Charlotte.
Frederica Charlotte was born on 7th May 1767, in Charlottenburg, Germany.
She was the eldest daughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia and his wife Elisabeth.
Her parents marriage was extremely unhappy, due to their mutual infidelities.
After several affairs with musicians and officers, Frederica Charlotte’s mother became pregnant in 1769 – the baby wasn’t her husband’s…..
A divorce was quickly granted, and Elisabeth Christine was placed under house arrest in the castle of Stettin.
She remained there for the next seventy-one years, until her death in 1840.
Frederica Charlotte was just two years old at the time of her mother’s disgrace, and never saw her mother again.
Frederica Charlotte was entrusted to the care of her grand~aunt Queen Elisabeth~Christine of Prussia, the wife of Frederick the Great.
Frederica Charlotte reportedly had a happy childhood with Queen Elisabeth Christine, who had no children of her own.
The Queen doted upon her grandniece and foster daughter, and Frederica Charlotte kept in correspondence with her foster mother her entire life.
On 29th September 1791 at Charlottenburg Palace, she married Prince Frederick, Duke of York & Albany.
A second marriage ceremony took place at Buckingham House on 23rd November.
The new Duchess of York received an enthusiastic welcome in London.
Sadly, the marriage was not to be a happy one.
After three years, much to the dismay of Frederica Charlotte’s mother~in~Law, Queen Charlotte, it had become apparent that the Duke and Duchess of York would have no children.
Frederica Charlotte and Frederick separated and the Duchess retired to Oatlands Park in Weybridge, Surrey.
At Oatlands, Frederica Charlotte indulged in her love of high stakes gambling.
She also kept many dogs, and was apparently very devoted to monkeys.
Their relationship after separation appears to have been amicable, but there was never any question of reconciliation.
Frederica Charlotte and Frederick’s relationship after their separation appears to have been amicable, but there was never any question of reconciliation.
Frederica Charlotte was a very gentle and sweet natured woman who, devoid of children and husband, immersed herself in her pets.
She was fond of handicrafts – at which she seemed highly skilled, and the interests of the local population.
She was also noted for having a good sense of humour.
Frederica Charlotte provided her much loved pets with a decent burial.
Her pet cemetery contained 64 dogs!
The cemetery was situated adjacent to the small lake, however, the original site of the pet cemetery is now covered in modern houses.
Some of the gravestones were retained.
Frederica Charlotte died at Oatlands, on 6th August 1820, she was 53 years old.
She is commemorated by a monument erected by the people of Weybridge, which stands on Monument Green.
After her death, she was always remembered as a harmless but eccentric little woman, with an extraordinary fondness for cats and dogs.
Her father-in-law King George once remarked about Frederica Charlotte ~
“Affection must rest on something,
and where there are no children, animals are the
object.”
🌹 Frederica of Prussia, Duchess of York 18th C. ~ John Hoppner
