19th Cent. Joséphine of Leuchtenberg, Queen Consort of Sweden and Norway.

Joséphine of Leuchtenberg

Joséphine Maximiliane Eugénie Napoléonne was born 14 March 1807, in Milan, Italy. She was the daughter of Princess Augusta Amalia of Bavaria (21 June 1788 - 13 May 1851) and Eugène Rose de Beauharnais (3 September 1781 - 21 February 1824). Her maternal grandparents were Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt (14 April 1765 - 30 March 1796) and Maximilian, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (27 May 1756 - 13 October 1825). Her paternal grandparents were Joséphine de Beauharnais, Empress Consort of the French (23 June 1763 - 29 May 1814) and Alexandre François Marie de Beauharnais, Vicomte de Beauharnais (28 May 1760 - 23 July 1794). Prince Eugène was adopted by Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 - 5 May 1821) on 12 January 1806. Joséphine's parents were married on 14 January 1806, in Munich. Her siblings were: Eugénie (1808-1847), Auguste (1810 - 1835), Amélie (31 July 1812 – 26 January 1873), Theodelinde (1814-1857) and Maximilian Joseph Eugene (2 October 1817 - 1 November 1852). Joséphine married Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte (4 July 1799 - 8 July 1859) by proxy on 22 May 1823, at the Leuchtenberg Palace, in Munich. He was the son of Désirée Clary, Queen Consort of Sweden and Norway (8 November 1777 - 17 December 1860) and Karl XIV Johan, King of Sweden and Norway (26 January 1763 - 8 March 1844).

Allegori of Joséphine of Leuchtenberg's Arrival to Sweden

by Fredric Westin

1823

Joséphine and Joseph François Oscar were married in person on 19 June 1823, in Stockholm. Her father, Eugène de Beauharnais died on 21 February 1824, in Munich. Joséphine and Joseph François Oscar had five children.

The Children of Joséphine of Leuchtenberg and Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte:

Carl Ludvig Eugen (3 May 1826 - 18 September 1872) Married Louise of the Netherlands in 1850.
Frans Gustaf Oscar (18 June 1827 - 24 September 1852)
Oscar Frederik (21 January 1829 - 8 December 1907) Married Sophia of Nassau in 1857.
Charlotta Eugenia Augusta Amalia Albertina (24 April 1830 - 23 April 1889)
Nikolaus August (24 August 1831 - 4 March 1873) Married Princess Therese of Saxe-Altenburg.

Joséphine of Leuchtenberg

by Fredrik Westin

ca 1835

Joséphine of Leuchtenberg

by Frederik Westin

1837

Her father-in-law, Karl XIV Johan died on 8 March 1844, in Stockholm, Sweden. He was buried in Riddarholmskyrkan, in Stockholm. He was succeeded by her husband, as Oscar I, King of Sweden and Norway, with Joséphine as his Consort. Her son, Crown Prince Oscar married Louise of the Netherlands (5 August 1828 - 30 March 1871) on 19 June 1850, in Stockholm. She was the daughter of Princess Louise of Prussia (1 February 1808 - 6 December 1870) and Prince Frederick of the Netherlands. Her mother, Augusta died 13 May 1851, in Munich. Her husband, Oscar I died 8 July 1859, in Stockholm. He was succeeded by their son, as Charles XV in Sweden and Charles IV in Norway.

Joséphine of Leuchtenberg

1874

Joséphine died aged 69, on 7 June 1876, in Stockholm. She was buried in Riddarholmen Church.

20-21th Cent. Ballerina Irina Baronova

Irina Baronova in La Boutique Fantasque
1934

Irina Baronova was born 13 March 1919, in Petrograd, Russia. She was the daughter of Lidia Vishniakova and Mikhail Baronov. In 1920, her family fled to Romania from the Russian Revolution. Irina started taking ballet lessons and showed great talent. In 1928, the family moved to Paris. There Irina became a student under Olga Preobrajenska. In 1930, she made her debut at the Paris Opera. In 1932, Irina joined George Balanchine's the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. In 1932, she danced in Jeux d'enfants. In 1933, Irina became one of the three girls named "baby ballerinas" by Arnold Haskell, with Tamara Toumanova (2 March 1919 - 29 May 1996) and Tatiana Riabouchinska (23 May 1917 - 24 August 2000). In 1933, Irina appeared in Les Présages. In 1934, in La Boutique Fantasque. In 1935, in Bronislava Nijinska's Les Cent Baisers.

Irina Baronova

1937

In 1938-1939, Baranova toured to Australia with Wassily de Basil's company. While there she performed in Les Sylphides, Les Presages and Aurora's Wedding, among other ballets. Irina married German Sevastianov in 1940. In 1940, Irina appeared as Trina, a ballerina in the film Florian. In 1943, as a dancer in Yolanda. Irina and Sevastianov were divorced in 1943.

Irina Baronova
1944

Irina Baronova

1944

In 1946, Irina met the theatrical agent Cecil Tennant, in England. They fell in love and Irina retired from ballet. In 1949, Irina appeared as Irina in Train of Events. Irina married Cecil Tennant in 1949. The couple had three children: Victoria Tennant, Robert Tennant and Irina Tennant. In 1951, Baronova starred as Yolanda Petrova in Toast to Love. Her husband, Cecil Tennant died in a car accident in 1967. Irina resumed her relationship with her first husband, German Sevastianov. Her daughter, Victoria became an actress, she made her first appearance in 1972, in The Ragman's Daughter. Sevastianov died in 1974. In 1980, Irina appeared as a ballet mistress in Nijinsky. In 1986, Baronova staged Fokine's Les Sylphides for The Australian Ballet. Tamara Toumanova died 29 May 1996, in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California. In 2000, Irina visited her daughter Irina in Byron Bay, in Australia and decieded to settle there. Tatiana Riabouchinska died on 24 August 2000, in Los Angeles.

Irina Ballet, life and love

2005

In 2005, she published her autobiography, Irina: Ballet, life and love. Also in 2005, she appeared in the documentary Ballets Russes. Irina Baronova died aged 89, on Saturday 28 June 2008, in Byron Bay, Australia.

"It was fun… it was great and sometime we even got paid." Irina Baronova

Source: Irina: Ballet, life and love by Irina Baronova.

18-19th Cent. Joseph of Austria, Palatine of Hungary.

Joseph Anton Johann

ca 1788

Joseph Anton Johann was born 9 March 1776, in Florence. He was the son of Maria Louisa of Spain (24 November 1745 - 15 May 1792) and Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (5 May 1747 - 1 March 1792). His maternal grandparents were Princess Maria Amalia Christina of Saxony, Queen Consort of Spain (24 November 1724 - 27 September 1760) and Charles III, King of Spain, Naples and Sicily (20 January 1716 - 14 December 1788). His paternal grandparents were Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress (13 May 1717 - 29 November 1780) and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (8 December 1708 - 18 August 1765). Joseph's parents were married on 5 August 1765, at Innsbruck. His siblings were: Maria Theresia (1767-1827), Francis (12 February 1768 - 2 March 1835), Ferdinand, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1769-1824), Maria Anna (1770-1809), Charles (1771-1847), Alexander (1772-1795), Albert (1773-1774), Maximilian (1774-1778), Maria Clementina (24 April 1777 - 11 March 1801), Anton Victor (1779-1835), Maria Amalia (1780-1798), John (1782-1859), Rainer (1783-1853), Louis (1784-1864) and Rudolf (1788-1831). His uncle, Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor (13 March 1741 - 20 February 1790) died on 20 February 1790, in Vienna. He was succeeded by his father as, Leopold II. Leopold died on 1 March 1792. He was buried at Capuchin Church, Vienna, Austria. He was succeded by his son, as Francis II. His mother, Maria Louisa died on 15 May 1792, at the Imperial Palace of the Hofburg, in Vienna, Austria. Joseph married Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia (9 August 1783 - 16 March 1801), on 30 October 1799, in Saint Petersburg. She was the daughter of Maria Feodorovna, Empress of Russia (25 October 1759 - 5 November 1828) and Paul I, Emperor of Russia (1 October 1754 - 23 March 1801). Alexandra and Joseph settled in the Castle of Alcsút, in Hungary. Alexandra gave birth to a daughter, Alexandrine on 8 March 1801, in Budapest, Hungary. The baby girl died on the day of her birth.

The Child of Alexandra and Joseph:

Archduchess Alexandrine of Austria (8 March 1801 - 8 March 1801)

Alexandra died of puerperal fever on 16 March 1801, in Vienna. Joseph married his second wife, Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (2 December 1797 - 14 September 1817) on 30 August 1815, at Schaumburg. She was the daughter of Amelia of Nassau-Weilburg and Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. Hermine died after giving birth to twins, on 14 September 1817, in Budapest.

The Children of Hermine and Joseph:

Archduchess Hermine Amalie Marie of Austria (14 September 1817 - 13 February 1842)Archduke Stephen of Austria (14 September 1817 -19 February 1867)

Joseph married his third wife, Maria Dorothea of Württemberg (1 November 1797 - 30 March 1855) on 24 August 1819, at Kirchheim unter Teck. She was the daughter of Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg and Louis of Württemberg. They had five children, three daughters and two sons.

The Children of Maria Dorothea and Joseph:

Archduchess Franziska Marie Elisabeth of Austria (31 July 1820 - 23 August 1820)

Archduke Alexander of Austria (6 June 1825 - 12 November 1837)

Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria (17 January 1831 - 14 February 1903)

Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria (2 March 1833 - 13 June 1905)

Archduchess Marie Henriette of Austria (23 August 1836 - 20 September 1902)

His brother, Francis II died on 2 March 1835, in Vienna, Austria. He was succeeded by his son, Ferdinand.

Joseph Anton Johann

by Barabas Miklos

1846

Joseph died aged 70, on 13 January 1847, in Buda. His wife, Maria Dorothea died 30 March 1855, in Budapest, Hungary.

19-20th Cent. Anna Held

Anna Held

Helene Anna Held was born 8 March 1873, in Warsaw, Poland. She was the daughter of Yvonne Pierre and Shimmle Held. Her father was a glove maker. In 1881, the family moved to Paris, France. Anna started singing in theatres in Paris. After her father died, she moved with her mother to London, England. She continued to perform as a singer. Anna married Maximo Carrera in 1894. They had a daughter, Liane Held Carrera (23 May 1895-1988) born 23 May 1895, in France. In 1896, she met Florenz Ziegfeld in London. She followed him to New York. In 1896, Anna appeared in A Parlor Match. In 1897, in La Poupee. In 1899, Papa's Wife.

Anna Held

1900

"I have never known the time when I did not wear stays. My stays are part of me."

Anna Held

"People look at me and look, but I do not care."

Anna Held

"I think the eyes flirt most. There are so many ways to use them."

In 1901, Anna appeared in The Little Duchess. In 1903, in Mam'selle Napoleon. In 1904, Higgledy Piggledy. In 1906, The Parisian Model. In 1907, she sang "It's Delightful to Be Married". Maximo Carrera died 23 April 1908. In 1908, she starred as Miss Innocence. In 1909, Ziegfeld began an affair with Lilliane Lorraine. In 1910, Anna starred in The Comet. Anna and Ziegfeld separated in 1913. Ziegfeld married Billie Burke in 1914. During World War I, Anna was performing to raise money for the war effort. She said; "There is no glory in war. You should be so prepared that war will never be necessary; that it will never be necessary to send your young men forth to pour out their life's blood in a useless conflict."

Anna Held in Follow Me

1916

In 1916, she starred in the musical Follow Me and as Mademoiselle Gobette in Madame la Presidente. Anna Held died from multiple myeloma, on 2 August 1918, in New York, USA. She was buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, in Hawthorne, New York.

"I have given up trying to be happy. It is no use an leads to nothing." Anna Held

15-16th Cent. Michelangelo

The Pietà

St. Peter's Basilica Vatican City Rome Italy

David
The Libyan Sibyl
Fresco in The Sistine Chapel Rome The Creation of the Sun and the Moon

Fresco in The Sistine Chapel Rome

1508-1512

The Creation of Eve

Fresco in The Sistine Chapel Rome

1509 The Creation of Adam

1510

Michelangelo

Self Portrait

Christ on the Cross

ca 1541

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born 6 March 1475, near Arezzo, in Caprese, Florentine. He was the son of Francesca di Neri del Miniato di Siena and Ludovico Buonarroti Simoni. His father was the judicial administrator of Caprese and local administrator of Chiusi. His mother, Francesca died in 1481. Michelangelo wished to be an artist all through his childhood, but his father believed artists were no better than shoemakers. In ca 1485, his father sent him to study grammar with Francesco da Urbino, in Florence. Michelangelo showed no interest in schooling, preferring instead to copy paintings from churches and seek the company of painters. In 1488, Michelangelo was apprenticed as a painter with Domenico Ghirlandaio and in sculpture with Bertoldo di Giovanni. Michelangelo later said; "If there is some good in me, it is because I was born in the subtle atmosphere of your country of Arezzo. Along with the milk of my nurse I received the knack of handling chisel and hammer, with which I make my figures." In 1489, when Lorenzo de' Medici asked Ghirlandaio for his two best pupils, Ghirlandaio sent Michelangelo and Francesco Granacci.

"Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish."

From 1490 to 1492, Michelangelo attended Lorenzo's school. It was during this time Michelangelo met Pico della Mirandola, Angelo Poliziano and Marsilio Ficino. From 1489 to 1492, Michelangelo produced two relief sculptures, the Battle of the Centaurs and the Madonna of the Stairs, in Casa Buonarroti, Florence. Lorenzo de' Medici died died in 1492. Michelangelo then studied anatomy with the help of the Prior of the Hospital of Sto Spirito. Michelangelo then went to Bologna. In 1495, he executed several marble statuettes for the Arca di San Domenico in the Church of San Domenico. In 1496, he traveled to Rome. He carved the Bacchus and Pietà, in Rome.

"Genius is eternal patience."

In 1501, he returned to Florence. While there he carved David and the Bruges Madonna. He painted the Doni Tondo of the Holy Family with St John the Baptist and made two marble tondi of the Madonna and Child. In 1503, he was commissioned and began the series of the Twelve Apostles for the Cathedral. In 1504, he began to work on the fresco in the Council Hall in Florence. In 1505, he left Florence.

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."

In 1508, he began to work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. In 1510, he completed the first half. In 1512, the whole undertaking was completed. His new master was Pope Leo X, the younger son of Lorenzo de Medici. He now commissioned him to complete the façade of S. Lorenzo, the family church in Florence.

"If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."

In 1520, he began planning the Medici Chapel, a funerary chapel in honour of four of the Medici. Leo X died in 1521 and it was not until after the accession of another Medici Pope, Clement VII, in 1523 that the project was resumed. Work began in earnest in 1524 and at the same time he was commissioned to design the Laurenziana Library in the cloister of the same church. In 1527, the Medici were again expelled from Florence. During the months of disorder in Florence, he was hidden by the Prior of S. Lorenzo. After the reinstatement of the Medici he set to work once more on the Chapel.

"Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle."

In 1534, he left Florence and settled in Rome. Michelangelo was at once commissioned to paint the Last Judgement on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. He began work on it in 1536. The very choice of subject is indicative of the new mood, as is the curious fact that the mouth of Hell gapes over the altar itself where, during services, stands a crucifix symbolizing Christ standing between Man and Doom. In 1538-1539, plans were made for the remodeling of the buildings surrounding the Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill, in Rome.

"I live and love in God's peculiar light."

Paul III commissioned frescoes for his own chapel, the Cappella Paolina. In 1542, Michelangelo started to work on them. ; these were begun in 1542 and completed in 1550.

"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection."

In 1550, Michelangelo completed the frescoes in Capella Paolina. They represent the Conversion of St Paul and the Crucifixion of St Peter. In the late 1550s, Michelangelo's program for the Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill started. In his last years he made drawings of the Crucifixion, wrote much of his finest poetry, carved the Pietà which was originally intended for his own tomb and the Rondanini Pietà in Milan, Castello. Michelangelo died on 18 February 1564, in Rome. He was buried in Santa Croce in Florence, the Church of the Holy Cross.

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

18th Cent. Anne d'Arpajon, Comtesse de Noailles.

Anne d'Arpajon, Comtesse de Noailles

Anne Claudine Louise d'Arpajon was born 4 March 1729, in Arpajon, France. She was the daughter of Anne Charlotte Le Bas de Montargis (1695-1767) and Louis de Sévérac, Marquis d'Arpajon-sur-Cère (1667-1736). The region of her birth was named Saint-Germain-lès-Châtres, the town of her birth, Châtres until 1720, when her father bought the Marquisat, and was granted permission by Philippe d'Orléans to rename the region Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, and the town Arpajon. Her mother, Anne Charlotte was lady in waiting to Marie Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans, Duchesse de Berry (20 August 1695 - 21 July 1719).

Anne d'Arpajon, Comtesse de Noailles

Anne Claudine married Philippe de Noailles, Duc de Mouchy (27 December 1715 - 27 June 1794), on 27 November 1741, in Versailles. He was the son of Françoise Charlotte Amable d'Aubigné, Duchesse de Noailles (5 May 1684 - 6 October 1739) and Adrien Maurice de Noailles, Duc de Noailles (29 September 1678 - 24 June 1766). Their first child, a daughter, Louise Henriette was born in 1745.

The Children of Anne Claudine and Philippe de Noailles:
Louise Henriette Charlotte Philippine de Noailles (1745-1832)
Charles Adrien de Noailles (1747)
Louis Philippe de Noailles (1748-1750)
Daniel François Marie de Noailles (1750-1752)
Philippe Louis Marc Antoine de Noailles (1752-1819)
Louis-Marie de Noailles (17 April 1756 - 9 January 1804)

Louis Marie de Noailles (1756-)

Comtesse de Noailles was first lady of honor to Maria Leszczyńska, Queen Consort of France (23 June 1703 - 24 June 1768), the wife of Louis XV, King of France and Navarre (15 February 1710 - 10 May 1774), and later to Marie Antoinette, Dauphine of France (2 November 1755 - 16 October 1793), the wife of Louis Auguste, Dauphin of France (23 August 1754 - 21 January 1793). She taught the young Dauphine French ceremonial etiquette and Marie Antoinette gave her the nickname, "Madame Etiquette". According to, The celebrated Madame Campan, lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette and confidante of Napoleon by Violette M. Montagu, one day when Marie Antoinette was taught to ride a donkey, she fell off. Her friends immediately went to help her up, but she said; "leave me on the ground, we must wait for Madame Etiquette. She will show us the right way to pick up a Dauphine who has tumbled off a donkey." According to the Memoirs of Marie Antoinette by Jeanne Louise Henriette, Madame Campan (2 October 1752 - 16 March 1822), "One day I unintentionally threw this poor lady into a terrible agony. The Queen was receiving I know not whom, - some persons just presented, I believe; the lady of honour, the Queen’s tirewoman, and the ladies of the bedchamber, were behind the Queen. I was near the throne, with the two women on duty. All was right, - at least I thought so. Suddenly I perceived the eyes of Madame de Noailles fixed on mine. She made a sign with her head, and then raised her eyebrows to the top of her forehead, lowered them, raised them again, then began to make little signs with her hand. From all this pantomime, I could easily perceive that something was not as it should be; and as I looked about on all sides to find out what it was, the agitation of the Countess kept increasing. The Queen, who perceived all this, looked at me with a smile; I found means to approach her Majesty, who said to me in a whisper, 'Let down your lappets, or the Countess will expire.' All this bustle arose from two unlucky pins which fastened up my lappets, whilst the etiquette of costume said 'Lappets hanging down.'" In 1789, her son Louis-Marie was elected to the Estates-General. Louis-Marie began the "orgy" on 4 August 1789, when all the privileges were abolished. In June 1790, he proposed the abolition of titles and liveries with the Duc d'Aiguilion. Anne Claudine, her husband Philippe, his sister Marie Anne Françoise de Noailles, their daughter-in-law, Vicomtesse de Noailles, and their niece, Duchesse d'Ayen, were guillotined on 27 June 1794, at Barriere du Trone, in Paris. They were buried at Picpus Cemetery.

Sources: The celebrated Madame Campan, lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette and confidante of Napoleon by Violette M. Montagu and Memoirs of Marie Antoinette by Madame Campan.

18-19th Cent. Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen Consort of Hanover.

Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

by Johann Friedrich August Tischbein

1796

Frederica Louise Caroline Sophie Alexandrina was born 3 March 1778, in the Alten Palais, in Hanover. She was the fifth daughter of Princess Friederike Caroline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (20 August 1752 - 22 May 1782) and Charles, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her maternal grandparents were Countess Maria Luise Albertine of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg and Prince George William of Hesse-Darmstadt. Her paternal grandparents were Elizabeth Albertine, Princess of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Frederica's parents were married on 18 September 1768, in Darmstadt. Her siblings were: Charlotte (1769-1818), Karoline Auguste (1771-1773), Georg Karl (1772-1773), Therese (1773-1839), Friedrich Georg (1774-1774), Louise (10 March 1776 - 19 July 1810), Georg (1779-1860), Friedrich Karl (1781-1783) and Auguste Albertine (1782-1782). Her mother, Friederike died during childbirth on 22 May 1782, in Hanover. Her father, Charles remarried the younger sister of his deceased wife, Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt on 28 September 1784. Charlotte also died of complications from childbirth, on 12 December 1785. Her father, Charles decided to send Frederica and her elder sisters Charlotte, Therese and Louise to grandmother, Maria Louise. Her brothers, George and Charles were later also placed in the care of their grandmother. They were educated by Salomé de Gélieu. In March 1793, Frederica and her sisters met Prince Frederick Louis Karl of Prussia and Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia. They were the sons of Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt and Frederick William II, King of Prussia. Soon marriage negotiations began. Her elder sister, Louise became engaged to Crown Prince Frederick William and Frederica was engaged to his younger brother, Prince Frederick Louis Karl.

Frederica and Louise

22 December 1793

The double engagement was celebrated on 24 April 1793, in Darmstadt. Louise and Frederick were married on 24 December 1793, in the Royal Palace of Berlin. Frederica and Prince Louis were married on 26 December 1793, in the Royal Palace of Berlin.

The children of Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Prince Frederick Louis of Prussia:

Prince Frederick Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia (30 October 1794 - 27 July 1863) Married Princess Louise of Anhalt-Bernburg in 1817.
Prince Frederick Wilhelm Charles George of Prussia (26 September 1795 - 6 April 1798)
Princess Frederica Wilhelmina Luise Amalie of Prussia (30 September 1796 - 1 January 1850) Married Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt in 1818.

Princess Frederica and Princess Louise

by Johann Gottfried Schadow

1797

The marriage could never be happy, as Frederick Louis preferred his mistresses and neglected his wife. Frederick Louis died of dephtheria on 23 December 1796. Frederica and her children then moved to the Schönhausen Palace, near Berlin. Frederick William II died on 16 November 1797. He was succeeded by her brother-in-law, as King Frederick William III with Louise as his Consort. In 1798, Frederica became pregnant. The paternity was recognized by Frederick William, Prince of Solms-Braunfels. Frederica and Frederick William were married on 10 December 1798, in Berlin. They couple then moved to Ansbach. Frederica gave birth to a daughter, Sophia on 27 February 1799.

The Children of Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Frederick William, Prince of Solms-Braunfels:
Princess Sophia of Solms-Braunfels (27 February 1799 - 20 October 1799)
Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels (11 September 1800 - 14 September 1800)
Prince Frederick Wilhelm Heinrich Casimir Georg Karl Maximilian of Solms-Braunfels (13 December 1801 - 12 September 1868) Married Countess Maria Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau in 1831.
Princess Augusta Luise Therese Matilda of Solms-Braunfels (25 July 1804 - 8 October 1865) Married Albert, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt in 1827
Stillborn Daughter (1805-1805)

Prince Alexander Frederick of Solms-Braunfels (12 March 1807 - 20 February 1867) Married Princess Louise of Landsberg-Velen in 1863.
Prince Frederick Wilhelm Ludwig Georg Karl Alfred Alexander of Solms-Braunfels (27 July 1812 - 13 November 1875) Married Princess Sophie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg in 1845.

In 1805, they faced financial difficulties when Frederick William resigned from his military posts. Frederica turned to her brother-in-law, King Frederick William III, but he refused to restore her annual pension as a Dowager Princess of Prussia. Her sister, Louise died on 19 July 1810, in Strelitz. She was buried in the garden of the Palace at Charlottenburg. In May 1813, Frederica met Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. He was the son of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom (19 May 1744 - 17 November 1818) and George III, King of the United Kingdom and Hanover (4 June 1738 - 29 January 1820). Frederica and Ernest Augustus fell in love. There was talk of a divorce and a possible marriage. After the victory in the Battle of Leipzig, Ernest Augustus turned up again in Neustrelitz. Frederica then asked Frederick William III for approval of her divorce, which he granted. Frederick William, Prince of Solms-Braunfels died on 13 April 1814. In August 1814, the engagement between Frederica and Ernest Augustus was officially announced. Frederica and Ernest Augustus were married on 29 May 1815, at the parish church of Neustrelitz. Her father, Charles assumed the title of Grand Duke of Mecklenburg on 18 June 1815, at the Congress of Vienna. Frederica and Ernest August were married again on 29 August 1815, at Carlton House, London. Queen Charlotte was against the marriage, even though her daughter-in-law was also her niece. She refused to attend the wedding and advised her son to live outside Great Britain with his wife. Frederica and Ernest Augustus had three children.

The Children of Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland:
Princess Frederica of Cumberland (27 January 1817 - 27 January 1817) Stillborn
Stillborn daughter (April 1818 - April 1818)
George V of Hanover (27 May 1819 - 12 June 1878) Married Marie of Saxe-Altenburg in 1834.

King William IV of the United Kingdom and Hanover died on 20 June 1837. His heir was Princess Victoria (24 May 1819 - 22 January 1901), but since Hanover was ruled under Salic Law, she could not inherit the Hanoverian throne. The next male descendant of the late King was her husband, who became King Ernest Augustus I of Hanover, with Frederica as his Queen Consort. Frederica died aged 63, on 29 June 1841, at Hanover. The King instructed the Court builder Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves to build a mausoleum for his wife and himself, in the garden of the Chapel, at Schloss Herrenhausen. He also named in her honour a central square near the Leineschloss, as Friederikenplatz.