Author Topic: King William IV, Queen Adelaide, the family  (Read 51998 times)

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basilforever

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King William IV, Queen Adelaide, the family
« on: September 09, 2006, 02:03:26 AM »
I was looking for a thread on H.M. Queen Adelaide who was the Queen Consort of William IV, but I have been unable to find one.
Can anyone tell me anything about her? I am curious why she does not get much attention. Does anybody have some pictures or stories of Adelaide?



I have one good picture:



I would also be really interested in seeing a picture of Queen Adelaide's Coronation Crown, I haven't been able to find one anywhere. Apparently she was the first Queen Consort since Mary of Modena, consort of James II, to have her own Coronation Crown made.

ilyala

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2006, 05:15:35 AM »
maybe she doesn't get much attention because her husband doesn't get much attention. william iv is mostly considered an interregnum between george iv and the glorious reign of queen victoria (just a tad of sarcasm in there  :D)... and while many people know about george iii, prince regent - george iv, few people are interested in william. this probably extends to his wife.

i cannot say i know much about her, however, i do know that she loved victoria and that she was very nice to her, that she tried hard to make a baby for her husband but had many miscarriages and one dead child. i know that william married her in the marriage race launched at princess charlotte's death, however i believe he also kept his long-term mistress who, as a contrast, gave him quite a bunch of kids.

basilforever

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2006, 05:55:32 AM »
I believe King William actually dumped his mistress and mother of his ten children Dorothea Bland (Jordan) when he married Queen Adelaide. I was surprised to learn that they apparently had a pretty good marriage and were devoted to one another. He was apparently faithful to Adelaide I've heard.

From what I have been able to find out, Adelaide and William had seven children. Only two of them survived long enough to be named. The first was Princess Charlotte of Clarence who lived for one day. The next was Princess Elizabeth of Clarence who lived for a few months. She displaced Victoria as heir to the throne during her short lifetime, and she was called Little Queen Bess by some of the people. I think that's cute. :)

Offline TampaBay

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2006, 06:15:04 AM »
I believe King William actually dumped his mistress and mother of his ten children Dorothea Bland (Jordan) when he married Queen Adelaide. I was surprised to learn that they apparently had a pretty good marriage and were devoted to one another. He was apparently faithful to Adelaide I've heard.


They did because Adelaide accepted his children by bMs. Jordan and functioned as a step-mother to them.  A very good step mother from what I have read.  I believe I read somewhere she accepted Ms. Jordan as the mother of the Kings children just as someone today would accept an ex-wife.

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basilforever

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2006, 06:48:09 AM »
Yes I think Queen Adelaide was known to be a very nice and understanding person. I read that she let the King's 10 children with Mrs. Jordan (there never was a Mr. Jordan you know) come and be with the King at his deathbed.

Rebecca

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2006, 06:52:06 AM »
I believe King William actually dumped his mistress and mother of his ten children Dorothea Bland (Jordan) when he married Queen Adelaide. I was surprised to learn that they apparently had a pretty good marriage and were devoted to one another. He was apparently faithful to Adelaide I've heard.

From what I have been able to find out, Adelaide and William had seven children. Only two of them survived long enough to be named. The first was Princess Charlotte of Clarence who lived for one day. The next was Princess Elizabeth of Clarence who lived for a few months. She displaced Victoria as heir to the throne during her short lifetime, and she was called Little Queen Bess by some of the people. I think that's cute. :)


Seven children?!  :o And I only knew of two of them - princesses Charlotte and Elizabeth. When were the other five born? Were they male or female? Sorry for asking so many questions, but I am very curious.  :)

basilforever

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2006, 07:04:09 AM »
Okay I'll tell you. My research has uncovered: (and there are unsubstantiated rumours of more)

A child born in 1818 (stillborn)

Princess Charlotte Augusta Louisa Hanover of Clarence, born and died on 21 March 1819

A child born in France on 5 September 1819 (stillborn late in the pregnancy)

Princess Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide Hanover of Clarence, born 10 December 1820, died tragically on 4th March 1821

A child born in Middlesex on 23 April 1822

A set of Twins (born and died in 1824) and usually listed as Twin Boys

Poor Poor Adelaide, she suffered so much to have a child and give the royal family an heir coming down from William IV. But ultimately the throne was destined for her and William's neice Princess Victoria of Kent, who Adelaide loved as a mother.

At Queen Victoria's coronation she hugged Queen Adelaide and only shook her own mother's hand, I've heard.

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2006, 07:11:34 AM »
Adelaide was an admirable queen, it's a shame she isn't appreciated more. She was a wonderful stepmother to the Fitzclarences (William's illegitimate children) and I believe one of William's grandchildren was named for her. When William died, she even continued to provide for the Fitzclarences financially, though she was under no obligation to do so. After William's death, the new Queen, Victoria, was writing Adelaide a letter of condolence, which she address to 'the Queen'. Her mother, the Duchess of Kent, pointed out that Adelaide was now 'Queen Adelaide' while Victoria was 'the Queen'. Victoria retorted that she would not be the first one to address Adelaide differently. Adelaide asked permission to stay at Windsor until William's funeral. Victoria told her to stay there as long as she liked. During her widowhood, she funded the building of an Anglican church in Malta. The city of Adelaide, in Australia, is named for her.
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Rebecca

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2006, 07:12:51 AM »
Thank you very, very much for this most interesting information, Basilforever!  :)

basilforever

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2006, 07:20:56 AM »
Does anyone have any pictures of Queen Adelaide?

I've found very, very few. Just usually variations on the portrait I posted above.

What did she really look like?

She lived until 1849 and photogaphy was invented by then, so are there any photographs of Her Majesty?

Also I really want to see her crown and any other jewelry she had. :)

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2006, 07:35:45 AM »
This is her crown.



I've never seen any photos of her though.
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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2006, 07:41:28 AM »
"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"
-Sherlock Holmes

"Men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget."

Offline Prince_Lieven

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2006, 07:48:33 AM »
Adelaide was godmother to Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Queen Mary's mother, and to Princess Vicky, Princess Royal, who's name was Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa. Adelaide's sister Ida was godmother to Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaight. Ida's son Edward was godfather to Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"
-Sherlock Holmes

"Men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget."

basilforever

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2006, 08:07:28 AM »
Fascinating, Prince Lieven. I didn't know some of that. Her sister Ida was younger than her and she also had a brother Bernard, I think his name was.

There should be a photo of her since she lived into the age of photogrphy, but maybe she refused to have her photo taken, thinking paintings are always more flattering. But there are not many paintings of her either.

Perhaps they made Adelaide's sister Ida's son the godfather of Louise, the future Princess Royal, because Adelaide herself who had no surviving descendents was godmother to the previous Princess Royal, Vicky.

By the way, is there a thread on this forum for Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife?

I've seen ones for Toria and Maud, but not for Louise.

And thank you for the photo of Queen Adelaide's crown, but it is such a pity that it has been stripped of all it's jewels and in that photo is just an empty shell.

I would like to see it as it was worn by Queen Adelaide.

There must be a coronation portrait of her somewhere? There usually is for every Queen.

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Re: William IV & Queen Adelaide
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2006, 08:24:06 AM »
Here's a coronation medal with her face on it:

"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"
-Sherlock Holmes

"Men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget."