These are the three queens Peter took pictures of at the ‘Welcome Center’ of the ‘Palais of the three Queens’ at Mirow.

Pincess Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born in 1744 in Mirow. In 1761 she married King George III of Great Britain and  became Queen. When she died in London in 1818 a huge number of people followed her casket.

One of Charlotte’s brothers was Carl of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Carl was the father of Louise and Friederike. Carl’s first wife died when Louise was only six and Friederike four and their brother George three. Carl then married his first wife’s sister, who was a very good mother to his children. But after only one year  the second wife died too. Carl then gave the children to their grandmother.  The children had a very good upbringing at the grandmother’s place.

Ernst August Duke of Cumberland (1771-1851) married Princess Friederike of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1778-1841). When he became King of Hannover in 1837, she became Queen of Hannover.

When Princess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1776-1810) married the crown prince of Prussia, she was only 17. Two days after their marriage, Ludwig (L0uis),  a brother of the crown prince, married the fifteen year old Princess Friederike of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. After only a few years Friederike became a war widow, she married again and then was widowed again. When she married the Duke of Cumberland this was her third marriage. She was 36 at the time and the Duke was 43. She had a long and happy marriage with the Duke who became King of Hannover. Friederike died aged 63 whereas Louise  died when she was  34. She had  born ten children. Of these only seven did survive.

About Louise’s marriage to the crown prince of Prussia who became Friedrich Wilhelm III  and about her early death  I am going to write a bit more in my next post.