Princess Elizabeth
Landgravine consort of Hesse-Homburg
Spouse	Frederick VI
House	House of Hesse-Homburg House of Hanover
Father	George III of the United Kingdom
Mother	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Born	22 May 1770 Buckingham Palace, Westminster
Died	10 January 1840 (aged 69) Frankfurt-am-Main, Hesse
Burial	Mausoleum of the Landgraves, Homburg

The Princess Elizabeth (22 May 1770 – 10 January 1840) was a member of the British Royal Family, the 7th child and 3rd daughter of George III of the United Kingdom, and Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg as the wife of Landgrave Frederick VI.

[edit] Early life

The Princess Elizabeth was born at Buckingham Palace, London. Her father was the reigning British monarch, George III, the eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Her mother was Queen Charlotte (née Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz). She was christened in the Great Council Chamber at St. James's Palace, on 17 June 1770 by Frederick Cornwallis, The Archbishop of Canterbury. Her godparents were The Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Cassel (her paternal first cousin once-removed, for whom The Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain, stood proxy), The Princess of Nassau-Weilburg (her paternal first cousin once-removed, for whom The Dowager Countess of Effingham, former Lady of the Bedchamber to The Queen, stood proxy) and The Crown Princess of Sweden (another paternal first cousin once-removed, for whom The Countess of Holderness, Lady of the Bedchamber to The Queen, stood proxy).^[1]

Princess Elizabeth painted by Sir William Beechey (1797)

The Princess' upbringing was very sheltered and she spent most of her time with her parents and sisters. King George and Queen Charlotte were keen to shelter their children, particularly the girls. However, in 1812, Princess Elizabeth purchased The Priory at Old Windsor in Berkshire as her private residence.

[edit] Marriage

During a ball in the British royal court in 1814 Elizabeth got to know the German Prince Frederick of Hesse-Homburg. When Elisabeth saw the Austrian officer in his elegant Hussar's uniform, she is supposed to have said: "If he is single, I will marry him!". Against all resistance the wedding took place on 7 April 1818 in the private chapel in Buckingham Palace in Westminster.

It wasn't a real "love match", in spite of the mutual understanding and respect; in fact it was an agreement with which both were satisfied. Elizabeth was able to escape the constrictive environment of her home by moving to Germany with her husband, and Frederick gained many advantages by becoming allied with the British royal family.

[edit] Later life

On 20 January 1820, Frederick succeeded his father as the Landgraf of Hesse-Homburg. Thanks to Elizabeth's dowry and annual allowance, he was able to remodel the palace in Homburg. For her part, Elizabeth (now Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg), could bid farewell to the rigid court etiquette she had disliked in England and as one would say today, "find herself", as she could do much as she liked in her new environs.

She died on 10 January 1840 at age 69 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Hesse, Germany. She was buried in the Mausoleum of the Landgraves, Homburg, Germany.

[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms

[edit] Titles and styles

• 22 May 1770 – 7 April 1818: Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth
• 7 April 1818 – 20 January 1820: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Princess of Hesse-Homburg^[2]
• 20 January 1820 – 10 January 1840: Her Royal Highness The Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg

[edit] Arms

As of 1789, as a daughter of the sovereign, Elizabeth had use of the arms of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of three points, the centre point bearing a cross gules, the outer points each bearing a rose gules.^[3]

[edit] Ancestors

[edit] References

1. ^ Yvonne's Royalty Home Page: Royal Christenings
2. ^ The London Gazette: 25 April; 19 May 1818
3. ^ Marks of Cadency in the British Royal Family

• Michael A. Beatty (2003), The English Royal Family of America, from Jamestown to the American Revolution, p. 207

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom