1822 - Princess Augusta of Cambridge was born at the Palace of Montbrillant in Hannover as the 2nd child and eldest daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge and his wife Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. She was the aunt of Queen Mary and the cousin of Queen Victoria.
In June 1843 she married her cousin Frederick William of Mecklenburg-Strelitz at Buckingham Palace. In September 1860 she became the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following the death of her father-in-law. Although she spent most of her adult life in Germany, the Grand Duchess Augusta retained close personal ties to the British Royal Family. She frequently visited her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, at her Kensington Palace apartments. After her mother's death in 1889 the Grand Duchess acquired a house now known as Mecklenburg House at 16 Buckingham Gate, London. She spent a portion of the year there until old age made it impossible for her to travel abroad.
For the preparations of the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1901 the Duke of Norfolk consulted her on matters of etiquette and attire. This was due to her being present at the coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide seventy-one years earlier. She was nine years old at the time and kissed the Queen's hand. She was also able to provide details of the coronation of Queen Victoria. Sadly old age prevented her from attending the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in June 1911.
She was a character and a half (one of my favourite royals). When the infirm Queen Victoria wouldn't have made it up the steps of St Paul's Cathedral the Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service was held outside with Queen Victoria sat in her carriage at the foot of the steps. Cousin Augusta made the comment: "Why is she thanking God in the street?" and also when Princess Maud became Queen of Norway she wrote in a letter to her neice Mary that Maud had: "become the Queen of a revolutionary throne." She was the longest lived grandchild of King George III and was the last link to the British branch of the House of Hanover.
Re: On This Day
Posted by JohnAF on July 20, 2025, 5:33 am, in reply to "On This Day"
On hearing of the betrothal of Princess Victoria Eugenia of Battenburg to King Alfonso of Spain she said " A Battenburg, on the throne of Spain? How extrordinary"
Re: On This Day
Posted by Hollie24 on July 20, 2025, 9:35 am, in reply to "Re: On This Day"
Augusta had rather a lot to say to her niece about a photo of the engaged couple kissing (on the cheeks, I think). I believe she started with "Fancy them going about kissing" and went on from there.
Re: On This Day
Posted by Hollie24 on July 20, 2025, 9:31 am, in reply to "On This Day"
Link to the Wikipedia article from which you quote:
