Name Princess of | House House of Hanover | |
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Born 19 March 1749
Leicester House, London ( 1749-03-19 ) Burial Westminster Abbey, London Father Frederick, Prince of Wales Mother Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha Died May 13, 1768, Carlton House, London, United Kingdom Parents Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Frederick, Prince of Wales Siblings George III of the United Kingdom Grandparents George II of Great Britain, Caroline of Ansbach Similar People George III of the United Ki, Princess Augusta of Saxe‑Gotha, Frederick - Prince of Wales, Caroline Matilda of Great Brit, Caroline of Ansbach | ||
Princess Louisa of Great Britain (Louise Anne; 19 March 1749 – 13 May 1768) was a grandchild of George II and sister of George III.
Life
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. She was reportedly close to her sister Caroline Matilda, who was of roughly the same age and was raised with her.
Her health was delicate throughout her life. According to Walpole, she "never appeared more than an unhealthy child of thirteen or fourteen". 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. The marriage was announced in Great Britain 10 January 1765.
The same year, 1764, she received a proposal from her brother-in-law, Adolf Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, but negotiations were deterred with reference to her health. 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.
Princess Louisa died, at Carlton House, London, on 13 May 1768, unmarried, and without issue, at the age of 19.