Feuding Facts About Princess Augusta, The Scandal-Ridden Sister
Princess Augusta could have been Queen of England in her own right, but instead, she had to give up her seat for her younger brother King George III—a man who went down in infamy for his madness.
Still, Augusta’s own royal closet somehow had more disturbing skeletons. From a family curse to blood feuds, this princess’s life was no Bridgerton ball.
1. Her Family Was In An Enormous Feud
Augusta’s life would eventually turn into a historical disaster, but it even started as a nightmare. Her father, Frederick the Prince of Wales, was in a bitter feud with Augusta’s royal grandparents, King George II and Queen Caroline of Ansbach—so much so that papa Frederick used Augusta’s very existence as a brutal revenge plot. And it all started the night she was born.
2. She Had A Bizarre Birth
When Augusta’s mother went into labor in the summer of 1737, Frederick put his plan into motion.
He quite literally forced the poor pregnant woman to run away from their royal lodgings, sit in a juddering carriage for over an hour, and finally give birth at the more remote St James’s Palace. Why?
Because then his loathsome parents couldn’t possibly be present for the birth of their grandchild. The results were chilling. With St James ill-prepared to welcome a royal heir, Princess Augusta came into the world on a humble tablecloth. And this petty beginning proved to be a dark omen.
3. Her Grandparents Shunned Her
There are two things you need to know about Augusta and her family: They belonged to the House of Hanover, and the House of Hanover held grudges. So when the King and Queen got word of how their granddaughter made her debut, they were horrified, yes—but they also made sure they got their own revenge.
First, Augusta’s grandmother smirked that the babe was a “poor, ugly little she-mouse”. Then, the monarchs went further and banished Augusta’s parents from court. Augusta was a few days old and already an outcast princess.
It did not get better from there.
4. Her Brother Booted Her Out
Augusta couldn’t catch a win. Although she started out life as second in line for the British throne, even this mildly favorable situation didn’t last long.
Within a year of her ignominious birth, Augusta’s younger brother George came along and supplanted her, then quickly became the Prince of Wales when their father passed unexpectedly in 1751.
Instead of a coronation, then, Augusta had to settle for being eye candy. Except even that didn’t work out quite perfectly.
