Princess Louise Charlotte Of Denmark

Princess Louise Charlotte of Denmark (Danish: Charlotte af Danmark) was born on 30 October 1789 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the daughter of Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark and Norway, and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Her father was a younger son of King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway, and her mother was a daughter of Duke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She had two older siblings, Prince Christian Frederick (later King Christian VIII of Denmark and King of Norway) and Princess Juliane Sophie, and a younger brother, Prince Frederick Ferdinand.

Her family’s residence in her early years included Christiansborg Palace, the main royal residence, and Sorgenfri Palace in Kongens Lyngby. In 1794, Christiansborg Palace was destroyed by fire, prompting the family to relocate temporarily to Levetzau's Palace, part of the Amalienborg Palace complex. That same year, her mother died at age 36. Princess Charlotte was confirmed on 22 May 1803 at Frederiksberg Palace, alongside her brother and sister.

On 10 November 1810, she married Prince William of Hesse-Kassel at Amalienborg Palace. Prince William served in Danish service, and the couple initially resided in Copenhagen at the Prince William Mansion on Sankt Annæ Plads, later moving to Brockdorff's Palace at Amalienborg. Their country residence was Charlottenlund Palace near Copenhagen.

Throughout her life, Princess Charlotte was perceived as wise, practical, and thrifty. She maintained strict control over her household finances and showed interest in art and poetry. She identified as a Danish patriot. Her role in the royal succession was significant; she supported the claim of her branch of the family to the Danish throne amidst the succession crisis caused by King Frederick VI’s lack of a male heir. Her brother Christian VIII ascended the throne in 1839, and she held an influential position at court.

After her brother’s death in 1848, her nephew Frederick VII succeeded as king. In 1850, political developments led to negotiations in which she was asked to renounce her and her children’s claims to the throne; she refused initially but eventually agreed in 1851, after conditions were modified. She stipulated that her son Frederick be able to switch from the Electorate of Hesse to a kingdom, and this was agreed upon with certain conditions attached.

Princess Louise Charlotte died on 28 March 1864 in Christiansborg Palace.

Her offspring included:

- Princess Caroline Frederica of Hesse-Kassel (1811–1829)

- Princess Marie Luise Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel (1814–1895), married Prince Frederick Augustus of Anhalt-Dessau

- Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1817–1898), married Christian IX of Denmark

- Frederick William, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1820–1884), married first Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia, then Princess Anna of Prussia

- Princess Auguste Sophie of Hesse-Kassel (1823–1889), married Baron Carl Frederik Blixen-Finecke

- Princess Sophie Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel (1827)

She was affiliated with the House of Hesse-Kassel through marriage, and her ancestry traces back to Danish and Mecklenburg noble lines.