11/08/1766 AD married
in the middle of preparations for the wedding, King Frederick V died and his 17-year-old son became King Christian VII.
On 1 October of that year in the royal chapel of St James's Palace (or according to other sources, in Carlton House) the marriage was celebrated by proxy, the groom being represented by Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany. Two days later, Caroline Matilda departed from Harwich for Rotterdam, and three weeks later she arrived in Altona, where she left her British entourage and was welcomed by her appointed Danish courtiers.
Twelve days later, Caroline Matilda arrived in Roskilde, where she met her future husband. The official wedding ceremony took place on 8 November 1766 in the Royal Chapel at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. Marriage celebrations and balls lasted for another month.
On 1 May 1767, Caroline Matilda was crowned Queen of Denmark in Copenhagen.
The young Queen at the Danish court was described as particularly temperamental, vivid and charming.
She was thought too plump to be described as a beauty, but she was considered attractive: it was said of her that "her appearance allowed her to avoid criticism of women, but still captivate the male eye." However, her natural and unaffected personality was not popular at the strict Danish court, despite the fact that originally she was warmly received in Copenhagen.
The weak-willed, self-centered, and mentally ill Christian VII was cold to his wife and not in a hurry to consummate the marriage. The reason for this attitude towards his wife could be that the King was actually forced to marry by the court, who believed that marriage would lead to improvement in his mental problems; in addition, part of the court felt that Christian VII preferred the company of men to women.
Despite rumors of homosexuality, the King had a mistress with whom he began a relationship in Holstein in the summer of 1766, and often visited courtesans in Copenhagen, of which the most famous was Anna Katrina Bentgagen, nicknamed Støvlet-Cathrine.
Subjects Who or What married?
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Christian VII of Denmark King of Denmark an...
Objects To Whom or What was married?
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Caroline Matilda of Great Britain Queen consort of D...
Events in 1766 MORE
