Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha

Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg ( – 8 February 1772) was Princess of Wales by marriage to Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son and heir apparent of King George II. She never became queen consort, as Frederick predeceased his father in 1751. Augusta's eldest son succeeded her father-in-law as George III in 1760. After her spouse died, Augusta was the presumptive regent of Great Britain in the event of a regency, until her son reached majority in 1756.

Early life

Princess Augusta was born in Gotha to Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst. Her paternal grandfather was Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, eldest surviving son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

In 1736, it was proposed that she marry 29-year-old Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II of Great Britain and his queen consort Caroline of Ansbach.

Frederick had been intended to marry Princess Louisa Ulrika, eldest unmarried daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia. A marriage alliance between Great Britain and Prussia had been an ambition for many years. However, when George II suggested that his eldest son would marry Louisa Ulrika, while his second (unmarried) daughter would marry the eldest son of the Prussian king, Frederick William demanded that his eldest son should likewise marry the eldest (unmarried) daughter of the king of Great Britain, and George II refused to agree to this demand.

Around the time the Prussian plan was cancelled, there were rumours that Frederick might marry Diana Russell, Duchess of Bedford, granddaughter of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and that such a marriage had been proposed when he visited the Duchess's lodge at Richmond.

Augusta did not speak French or English, and it was suggested that she be given lessons before the wedding, but her mother did not consider it necessary, as the British royal family were from Germany. She arrived in Britain, speaking virtually no English, aged 16, for a wedding ceremony which took place almost immediately, on , at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, London.

At the time of her wedding, Augusta was described as tall and slender, with regular features, an oval face, and light brown hair. Contemporary accounts noted that although her figure was still developing, she was considered likely to become attractive, and her eyes were described as bright and expressive.

Princess of Wales

Augusta of Saxe-Gotha left Hellevoetsluis 17 April 1736 and arrived at Greenwich on the royal yacht William and Mary on the 25th, where she was welcomed by her groom. On 27 April 1736, she was escorted to St James's Palace, where she met the rest of the royal family. When she was introduced to the royal family, she made a favourable impression on the King and Queen by throwing herself on the floor before them in a gesture of respect.

Frederick once stated that he would never allow himself to be influenced by his consort as his father was, and he thus never made Augusta his confidante.

When Augusta's first pregnancy was announced, the Queen stated that she would be sure to witness the birth, to be assured that the pregnancy was indeed genuine. She reportedly wished the succession to pass to her second surviving son, Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. The birth of their first daughter, Princess Augusta, on 31 July 1737, took place at St James's after the Princess of Wales was forced by Frederick to travel from Hampton Court Palace while in labour, to prevent his hated parents from being present at the birth.

The King reportedly did not show much feeling upon the death of his son and the funeral was simple. Furthermore, she initially appointed a large part of Charlotte's court staff, several of whom were suspected of reporting to Augusta about Charlotte's behaviour. He answered that he had made a sacred vow never to do so, but that if Caroline Matilda preferred von Plessen's company over his, so be it.

Issue Name Birth Death Notes Princess Augusta, Duchess of Brunswick 31 July 1737 23 March 1813 Married, 1764, Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel; had issue. George III 4 June 1738 29 January 1820 Married, 1761, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; had issue. Prince Edward, Duke of York 25 March 1739 17 September 1767 Died aged twenty-eight, unmarried. Princess Elizabeth 10 January 1741 4 September 1759 Died aged eighteen, unmarried. Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester 25 November 1743 25 August 1805 Married, 1766, Maria, Countess Waldegrave; had issue. Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland 7 November 1745 18 September 1790 Married, 1771, Anne Luttrell; no issue. Princess Louisa 19 March 1749 13 May 1768 Died aged nineteen, unmarried. Prince Frederick 13 May 1750 29 December 1765 Died aged fifteen, unmarried. Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark and Norway 11 July 1751 10 May 1775 Married, 1766, Christian VII, King of Denmark and Norway; had issue.

Legacy Several places in British America were named in her honour: Augusta, Georgia Augusta County, Virginia Fort Augusta, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

Michelle Fairley portrayed a fictionalised version of Augusta in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023).

Ancestors