Princess Augusta of Cambridge - Early Life

Early Life

Princess Augusta was born on 19 July 1822 at the Palace of Montbrillant, Hanover. Her father was Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, the seventh son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her mother was Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel. The young princess was christened at the same palace on 16 August 1822, by Rev Edward Curtis Kemp (Chaplain to the British Ambassador to the Court of Berlin, The Rt. Hon. Sir George Rose). Three of her godparents were present at the christening:

• Princess Caroline, Landgravine Frederick of Hesse-Kassel (her maternal grandmother)
• Princess Louisa of Nassau-Usingen (presumably her maternal aunt)
• a Princess Louisa, a Landgravine of Hesse, being her maternal aunt either by marriage or blood

The rest were not present, possibly being represented by proxies:

• The Duke of York (her paternal uncle)
• all of her six living paternal aunts (by blood)
  • Queen Charlotte of Württemberg
  • The Princess Augusta Sophia
  • The Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg
  • The Duchess of Gloucester
  • The Princess Sophia
• The Electress of Hesse (wife of Wilhelm II, her mother’s cousin)
• The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg (her maternal aunt)
• Princess Charlotte, Landgravine William of Hesse-Kassel (wife of her maternal uncle)

The Princess spent her earlier years in Hanover, where her father was the viceroy on behalf of his brother, George IV.

Princess Augusta had one brother, Prince George, later 2nd Duke of Cambridge; and one sister, Princess Mary Adelaide, later Duchess of Teck. As such, Princess Augusta was a first cousin of Queen Victoria and aunt to Mary of Teck, later consort of George V.