Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales

[snokitty]

Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales | Unofficial Royalty

Princess Augusta of Saxe-Coburg, the second youngest of the 19 children of Friedrich II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst, was born on November 30, 1719 in Gotha (Germany).   In 1736, at the age of 16, and still very young for her age, clutching a doll, and knowing no English, Augusta arrived in England for her marriage to Frederick, Prince of Wales, the son of King George II.  On May 8, 1736, after having a dinner with Frederick and his siblings, Augusta was led up the aisle of the Chapel Royal at St. James' Palace by her future brother-in-law William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, to marry her 29 year old groom.

The newlyweds were strictly controlled by Frederick's parents who did not allow them to set up their own household.  Augusta only spoke German and a little French, so a tutor was arranged to teach her English.  Because she was so lonely, her old governess was brought to England to keep her company.  Having been brought up as a Lutheran, Augusta had misgivings about receiving communion in the Church of England.  She was only persuaded to do so when her mother-in-law threatened to annul her marriage and send her back home.

Frederick and Augusta had nine children including King George III who succeeded his grandfather King George II and Caroline Matilda, Queen Consort of Denmark whose marriage was a tragic story.

[LouisFerdinand]

Princess Augusta had a civil but cool relationship with King George II and Queen Caroline whom Prince Frederick Louis loathed.

[amabel]

I rather thogutht that since they hated Frederick, she was inevitably involved In the rows... She was forced to give birth to her first child in a palace that hadn't been prepared because Fred didn't want his parnets to be there when the baby was born.  And his own mother said that if the child had been a boy, she would have suspected that Fred and Augusta were trying to foist a non royal child on the family.  they were pretty appalling..

[LouisFerdinand]

Seeking a tutor for her son, Augusta entrusted the young Prince George's education to John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute.

[LouisFerdinand]

Princess Augusta greatly extended Kew Gardens after her spouse's demise. Enlisting the aid of Lord Bute and the Reverend Stephen Hales, both well-known botanists, she followed her husband's plans for the garden, extending it, adding buildings and features.

[LouisFerdinand]

Having been raised in the Lutheran faith, Augusta was unhappy about receiving communion in the Church of England. She was only persuaded to do so when her mother-in-law Queen Caroline threatened to annul her marriage and return her to Germany.