The House of Hannover,past and present

[Martin]

Every country has its own way of writing history. Yours is very English. Ernest August could also be seen as a clever politician- reactionary of corse- but he did not lose his kingdom in the 1848 revolution.He adapted when needed.

King Ernest Augustus I and Queen Frederica of Hanover, two of my favorite pre-Victorian royals.

Ernest (aka The Duke of Cumberland), inherited the throne of Hanover from his brother William IV, as due to the Salic law, Victoria could not inherit in Germany.

He was an autocrat, very reactionary, and almost lost his throne.  

He was seen as an evil person in his own time, people on the street avoided him.  He had an eye missing and was suspected in the murder of his valet.

He married his first cousin, Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and they began to try to produce an heir, even before the death of Princess Charlotte.  He was one step ahead of the Great Marriage Race between his brothers.

His marriage was not approved of by anyone in England, including Queen Charlotte, who was the aunt of Frederica, and for good reason.

Frederica was suspected in the murder of not one but two previous husbands!  They were 1.)Prince Louis of Prussia, who, although they divorced in 1796, died mysteriously soon after, in the same year.  2.)Prince Frederick of Solms-Braunfels, who also died mysteriously and conveniently just in time for Frederica to marry Ernst and produce an heir.  She had 8 or 9 children by the first two hubands.

She was notorious in Germany and England, always involved in various intrigues and affairs.

She and Ernest continually schemed and plotted for the throne of Great Britain, their ultimate prize.

However, they had to settle for Hanover, and she spent the last 4 years of her life as a queen.

King Ernst spent much time in England, bothering his neice Queen Victoria as much as possible and even suing her for Princess Charlotte's jewels, which he believed belonged to the Crown of Hanover.

Ernst and Frederica had one surviving child, George, or "Blind George", who succeeded his father in 1851 as King George V of Hanover.  

George V married Marie of Saxe-Altenberg and had: Ernst August II (married Thyra), Frederica (Baroness Pawel-Rammingen), and  Mary, who died young.

Blind George was deposed in 1866.

[carl fraley]

I came across an old article on google by accident from 2006 where the 2 sons of Prince Ernest August V were selling off the Geulph art and silver etc.... to establish a fund to keep Castle Marienburg running.   My question is..... How did the 2 boys who are in their 20's come into ownership of the castle??  Also, who currently owns the properties in Gmunden that sustained the family since 1866?

The fortune (or what was left of it) that King George V , had to get Queen Victoria to help he retrieve, what's left of it?  i mean is the family still "comfortable"?  What properties does the family still own?

Under German Law, would the children of Queen Frederika be entitled to any portion of the families wealth? 

[grandduchessella]

I believe Ernst August is very well-off but no doubt it costs a lot to maintain historical properties. I got the catalog of the auction and there was a good deal sold but I don't believe there was any significant jewelry in it. I think Caroline has been seen in one of Victoria Louise's tiaras. There was a good deal of china and artwork as well as some historical photographs.

[Eric_Lowe]

I think they also owned the country home in Gmunden.

[Eric_Lowe]

No I want to know more about cousin Lily...I actually had a fewof her letters. It would be nice to find out where I can get more info on her.

[amelia]

Is this the same Princess Frederica, niece of Grand Duchess Alexandra Yosovna, wife of GD Konstatin Nicholovich? Didn't Gd Alexandra Y want her eldest son GD Nicholas Konstatinovich to marry her?I understand that she was in love with her father's secretary. Did she marry him? Thanks Amelia

[Svetabel]

Is this the same Princess Frederica, niece of Grand Duchess Alexandra Yosovna, wife of GD Konstatin Nicholovich? Didn't Gd Alexandra Y want her eldest son GD Nicholas Konstatinovich to marry her?I understand that she was in love with her father's secretary. Did she marry him? Thanks Amelia

Yes, the same Frederica whom GDss Alexandra I. wanted to marry her eldest son. Frederica did marry the secretary with the help and support of Queen Victoria.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...she reputedly also turned down one of Queen Victoria's sons as well...

[Norbert]

in 1863 she was put forward as a future bride for Prince Alfred but Queen Victoria regarded the match as too close and Hanoverian  and  put a veto to the idea. Alfons was 6th baron and became a British subject in 1880. She constantly battled for larger quarters at Hampton Court Palace and converted the stables. After the death of her daughter she devoted herself to charity and opened a home for women in East Moseley . Alfons  was unpopular at the British Court... anyone know why?. Meanwhile she adopted his nephew Baron Manfred ( b. 1880-?)  who in turn adopted in 1950,  60 year old George Earle, Gov of Pennsylvainia...very odd.

[Eric_Lowe]

Interesting ! However did anyone know why they moved to France ? 

[Norbert]

They maintained their apartments at Hampton Court Palace.

[Eric_Lowe]

But the reason for leaving...for health reasons ?

[eejm]

in 1863 she was put forward as a future bride for Prince Alfred but Queen Victoria regarded the match as too close and Hanoverian  and  put a veto to the idea. Alfons was 6th baron and became a British subject in 1880. She constantly battled for larger quarters at Hampton Court Palace and converted the stables. After the death of her daughter she devoted herself to charity and opened a home for women in East Moseley . Alfons  was unpopular at the British Court... anyone know why?. Meanwhile she adopted his nephew Baron Manfred ( b. 1880-?)  who in turn adopted in 1950,  60 year old George Earle, Gov of Pennsylvainia...very odd.

Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria's fourth son, also pursued Frederica.  Leopold wanted to propose to Frederica, as they were quite close, but upon hearing she was in love with her father's equerry, he decided against proposing and instead helped her obtain approval to marry her love.  It was Queen Victoria who gave the approval for Frederica to marry her equerry (I forget his name), for as a male-line descendent of George III, Frederica was also a British princess.  Leopold and Frederica stayed good friends until his death in 1884.  Frederica was also close to Leopold's wife, Helen.

[Eric_Lowe]

Seems like "Cousin Lily" was quite a heart-breaker ! I heard she was also close to the Hapsburgs since she spent time in Vienna and Gmunden.

[Norbert]

however her parents must have been furious at such a low marriage and with Queen Victoria for supporting it.