#hedwig elisabeth charlotte of holstein gottorp

[andiatas]

Queen Charlotta as a Princess by Alexander Roslin (oil on canvas, 1774)

Princess Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta married her cousin, Duke Karl, later King Karl XIII in 1809.

Queen Charlotta is known for her diary, which consisted of many fictitious letters between her and her friend Sofie Piper. Her diary contains political comments and detailed descriptions of life at the Royal Court. It was preserved for posterity, and was published in 1902. Her diary has proven a valuable source of material for historical research.

Queen Charlotta also founded Sweden's first school for deaf-mute pupils in Stockholm in 1809.

Photo: Nationalmuseum

[venicepearl]

Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp (22 March 1759 – 20 June 1818) was Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIII and II. She was also a famed diarist, memoirist and wit. She is known by her full pen name (above), though her official name as queen was Charlotte (Charlotta).

She was born in Eutin the daughter of Duke Frederick August I of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Ulrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel. She grew up in Eutin and married her cousin Charles, Duke of Södermanland, in Stockholm on 7 July 1774 when she was fifteen years old. The marriage was arranged by King Gustav III to provide the throne of Sweden with an heir. The King had not consummated his marriage and had decided to give the task of providing an heir to the throne to his brother.

[tiny-librarian]

According to Antonia Fraser “Antoine wore glistening cloth-of-silver” to her proxy marriage ceremony. Sadly, neither this nor any other of Marie Antoinette’s complete gowns survive today.

The two gowns above were worn by two future Swedish Queens. The one on the top was worn by Sophia Magdalena of Denmark to her November 4th, 1766 wedding to the future Gustav III of Sweden. On the bottom is the one worn by Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp to her June 7th, 1774 wedding to the future Charles XIII.  One was worn four years before Antoinette’s proxy wedding, and the other four years after, and these lovely gowns us an idea of what her dress might have looked like.

[tiny-librarian]

According to Antonia Fraser “Antoine wore glistening cloth-of-silver” to her proxy marriage ceremony. Sadly, neither this nor any other of Marie Antoinette’s complete gowns survive today.

The two gowns above were worn by two future Swedish Queens. The one on the top was worn by Sophia Magdalena of Denmark to her November 4th, 1766 wedding to the future Gustav III of Sweden. On the bottom is the one worn by Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp to her June 7th, 1774 wedding to the future Charles XIII.  One was worn four years before Antoinette’s proxy wedding, and the other four years after, and these lovely gowns us an idea of what her dress might have looked like.

[tiny-librarian]

A portrait of Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, future Queen of Sweden and Norway, in her wedding gown.

The gown itself is still in existence, one of only a handful of 18th Century Royal Wedding Gowns that have survived into the present day. Images of the stunning dress can be seen here.

[tiny-librarian]

Royal Birthdays for today, March 22nd:

Go-Horikawa, Emperor of Japan, 1212

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, 1459

John II Casimir, King of Poland, 1609

Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, Queen of Sweden, 1759

Wilhelm I, German Emperor, 1797

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, 1956

Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, 1972

[tiny-librarian]

Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, Queen of Sweden.

[tiny-librarian]

A miniature of Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, Queen of Sweden and Norway.

[tiny-librarian]

Royal Birthdays for today, March 22nd:

Go-Horikawa, Emperor of Japan, 1212

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, 1459

John II Casimir, King of Poland, 1609

Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, Queen of Sweden, 1759

Wilhelm I, German Emperor, 1797

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, 1956

Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, 1972

[tiny-librarian]

The coronation gown of Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, Queen of Sweden.