Lovisa of the Netherlands

Portrait of Queen Lovisa. Artist unknown. Photo from the Bernadotte Library's archive.

The Swedish Royal House belongs to the Bernadotte dynasty, who have held the Swedish throne for over 200 years.

Lovisa (Louise) of the Netherlands, 1828–1871

Vilhelmina Fredrika Alexandra Anne Louise of the Netherlands was born in August 1828 in The Hague, as Princess of the Netherlands. She was the daughter of Prince Frederik of the Netherlands and Luise of Prussia.

Louise was chosen as a suitable bride for the heir to the Swedish throne, Prince Karl. Minister of Foreign Affairs Manderström began negotiations in 1849, describing her "excellent upbringing and good character". Their engagement was announced in February 1850. The wedding took place in June that same year, and her official name became Lovisa.

Lovisa and Karl were very different, and their relationship was never particularly happy. The couple had two children: Louise in 1851 and Karl Oskar in 1852. Due to a complication during the birth of Karl Oskar, Lovisa was unable to have any more children. Their son died in 1854.

In 1859, she became Queen of Sweden and Norway. She was crowned Queen of Sweden in Stockholm in 1859, and Queen of Norway in Trondheim the following year. Lovisa never wielded any political influence, and nor did she try to do so. She died in March 1871 in Stockholm.

Queen Lovisa, photographed by court photographer Johannes Jaeger in mid-1869. This is probably the oldest Jaeger photograph in the Royal Court's collections.

Queen Lovisa, photographed by court photographer Johannes Jaeger in mid-1869. This is probably the oldest Jaeger photograph in the Royal Court's collections. Photo from the Bernadotte Library's archive.

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