Princess Louisa of Great Britain

Princess Louisa of Great Britain (Louisa Anne; 19 March 1749 – 13 May 1768) was a grandchild of King George II and sister of King George III.

For the earlier Princess of Great Britain called Louisa, see Louise of Great Britain.
Princess Louisa
Born(1749-03-19)19 March 1749
Leicester House, London
Died13 May 1768(1768-05-13) (aged 19)
Carlton House, London
Burial21 May 1768
Westminster Abbey
HouseHanover
FatherFrederick, Prince of Wales
MotherPrincess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha

Life
Louisa (right) with her elder sister Elizabeth (left) and younger brother Frederick (below) in a family group portrait of 1751.

Princess Louisa was born on 19 March 1749, at Leicester House, Westminster, London, and was christened there on 11 April. Her father was Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II and Caroline of Ansbach. Her mother was Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Her godparents were her paternal uncle Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel and aunts the Queen of Denmark and the Princess of Orange, all of whom were represented by proxies.[1] She was reportedly close to her sister Caroline Matilda, who was of roughly the same age and was raised with her.[2]

Portrait of Louisa by Jean-Etienne Liotard, 1754

Her health was delicate throughout her life. According to Walpole, she "never appeared more than an unhealthy child of thirteen or fourteen".[3] In 1764, negotiations were made between the British and Danish royal houses of a marriage between the Danish heir to the throne and a British princess. The marriage was considered suitable in status and welcomed by both houses, as there were few royal Protestant houses to choose between at that point for either party. The preferred choice for a bride was initially Princess Louisa, but after the Danish representative in London, Count von Bothmer, was informed of her weak constitution, her two years younger sister Caroline Mathilda was chosen for the match instead.[4] The marriage was announced in Great Britain 10 January 1765.[5]

The same year, 1764, she received a proposal from her brother's brother-in-law, Adolf Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, but negotiations were again deterred due to concerns regarding her health.[6] Reportedly, by the time her sister Caroline Matilda left Great Britain for Denmark in 1766, Louisa was succumbing to a more and more deteriorating state of health due to an advancing tuberculosis, which eventually turned her into an invalid.[7]

Princess Louisa died, at Carlton House, London, on 13 May 1768, unmarried, and without issue, at the age of 19.

Ancestors

See also
  • List of British princesses

References
  1. "Yvonne's Royalty Home Page: Royal Christenings". Archived from the original on 2011-08-27. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  2. John Van der Kiste: The Georgian Princesses
  3. Finch, Barbara Clay: Lives of the princesses of Wales
  4. Bregnsbo, Michael: Caroline Mathilde. Magt og skæbne
  5. Bregnsbo, Michael: Caroline Mathilde. Magt og skæbne
  6. Finch, Barbara Clay: Lives of the princesses of Wales
  7. John Van der Kiste: The Georgian Princesses
  8. Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans [Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the Kings and Princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living] (in French). Bourdeaux: Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel. 1768. p. 4.
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