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[b]The story[/b]

Frederik (VIII), Christian IX and Queen Louise's eldest son, was likeable, bright, and politically well-informed. His Swedish wife, Lovisa, was dull, evangelical, and not particularly good looking.

Their marriage was not an easy one but nevertheless they managed to produce eight children, and it was via them that the line of Christian IX reached Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and Luxemburg. Unfairly Frederik VIII is mainly remembered for his death in Hamburg.

When Frederik (VIII) was born in Copenhagen there was little prospect of his ever becoming King of Denmark. The contest for the throne was seething but his father, great nephew of the king, was far down the list of possible sovereigns. But in 1853 ten-year-old Frederik's life changed.

His father suddenly became heir to the throne and so Frederik was sent to a proper school. Denmark had just won the three-year War with Prussia and the young prince was given a hard time by his classmates. He spoke Danish with a German accent and nobody thought his German-born father had any right to the Danish throne.

While studying in England, Frederik fell in love with one of Queen Victoria's daughters. But the pro-German queen would not hear of such an alliance. Victoria's mother had been born in Germany and her eldest daughter was married to the crown prince of Prussia. Moreover, one of her children had already married into the Danish royal family and one was plenty!

Frederik ended up by marrying the only child of the Swedish king, Princess Lovisa. She wasn't pretty but she was stinking rich.

The couple, who resided at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, lived separate lives and Frederik hated being unoccupied. He was talented and politically informed, but Christian IX would not let him step into the limelight. Lovisa felt lonely in Denmark. Her beautiful sisters-in-law found her dull and awkward, so she sought solace in religion.

Despite this desolate marriage Frederik and Lovisa had eight children, who were brought up very strictly. They had to do a military march before breakfast every day, and their evening meal, seven days a week, consisted of veal cutlets, potatoes and spinach.

[b]Heart trouble[/b]

In 1912 Frederik stopped off in Hamburg on his way home from convalescence in Nice. He went for a walk one evening and collapsed. When he arrived at hospital he was dead. His body, labelled number 1653, was laid out side by side with eight other corpses in the city morgue. The hotel manager managed to find him and a couple of hours later the king of Denmark was laid out on a bed at the hotel.

[b]His eldest son became King Christian X[/b]

His second eldest, Carl (pictured), changed his name to Haakon VII when he became King of Norway in 1905. His daughter Ingeborg was astonished when her engagement, unknown to her, was announced by Christian IX. She married Prince Carl of Sweden and via their only daughter the family spread to Belgium and Luxembourg.

Among their descendents today are Queen Margrethe of Denmark, King Harald of Norway, King Albert of Belgium, and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxemburg.

A Royal Family - The Family Expands biography




A Royal Family - The Family Expands biography




A Royal Family - The Family Expands biography