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Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (November 30, 1719 – February 8, 1772) was Princess of Wales from May 8, 1736 to March 31, 1751 and Dowager Princess of Wales thereafter. She was one of only three holders of the title who never became queen. Augusta's eldest son succeeded as George III of Great Britain in 1760 as her husband, Frederick, Prince of Wales had died eight years earlier.
Augusta was born in Gotha to Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1676-1732) and Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst (1676-1740). Her paternal grandfather was Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, eldest surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg.
At age 16 and speaking virtually no English, she arrived in Great Britain for a wedding ceremony which took place almost immediately, on May 8, 1736, at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, London. Despite a twelve-year age difference, the marriage seems to have been a happy one. They had nine children, the last born after Frederick's death. The birth of their first daughter, Augusta, on August 31, 1737, took place at St James's after Augusta was forced by Frederick to travel from Hampton Court Palace while in labour, simply to prevent his hated parents, King George II and Queen Caroline, from being present at the birth.
Throughout their marriage, Augusta went along with her husband's wishes in the feud with his parents. Following the Prince of Wales' death, her role as mother of the heir-apparent to the throne became a more important one, and she was named prospective regent, which caused a political controversy. Shortly afterwards, she began to be influenced by John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, her son's tutor, and rumours spread that they were having an affair. Both were pilloried in the press. Even after George III's accession, Augusta suffered widespread hostility from the public. After she died of cancer of the throat at age 52 at Carlton House, her funeral procession attracted troublemakers who followed the coffin to the grave shouting insults.
The city of Augusta, Georgia was named in her honour.
Titles, Styles, Honours & Arms
Titles
- 1719-1736: Her Serene Highness Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Duchess in Saxony
- 1736-1751: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales
- 1736-1772: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Princess of Wales
Issue
Her nine children were:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRH Princess Augusta | 31 August 1737 | 31 March 1813 | married 1764, Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick; had issue |
| HM George III, King of Great Britain | 4 June 1738 | 29 January 1820 | married 1761, Charlotte-Sophia, Duchess of Mecklenburg; had issue |
| HRH Edward, Duke of York | 14 March 1739 | 17 September 1767 | |
| HRH Princess Elizabeth Caroline of Wales | 30 December 1740 | 4 September 1759 | |
| HRH William, Duke of Gloucester & Edinburgh | 14 November 1743 | 25 August 1805 | married 1766, Maria Walpole, Countess of Waldegrave; had issue |
| HRH Henry, Duke of Cumberland | 27 November 1745 | 18 September 1790 | (an alleged marriage to Olive Wilmot in 1767 did not occur) married 1771, The Hon. Lady Anne Luttrell; no issue |
| HRH Princess Louisa Anne | 8 March 1749 | 13 May 1768 | |
| HRH Prince Frederick William | 13 May 1750 | 29 December 1765 | |
| HRH Princess Caroline Matilda of Wales | 11 July 1751 | 10 May 1775 | married 1766, Christian VII, King of Denmark, had issue |
External links
- A short profile of Augusta alongside other influential women of her time:http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower1740.htm
British royalty | 1719 births | 1772 deaths | Natives of Thuringia | House of Wettin | House of Hanover | English & British princesses | Deaths by throat cancer
Augusta de Sajonia-Gotha | Augusta van Saksen-Gotha | Augusta av Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha | Augusta av Sachsen-Gotha
"Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha"