Born – 13th August 1792
Died – 2nd December 1849
Father – George I Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1761 – 1803)
Mother – Luise Eleonore (1763 – 1837)
Spouse – King William IV (1765 – 1837)
Children – Charlotte (1819), Elizabeth (1820 – 1821)
Queen Consort of the UK – 1830 – 1837
1792 (13th August)
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was born Adelaide Louise Theresa Caroline Amelia to George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg at the Elisabethenburg Palace, Meiningen.
1792 (19th August)
Adelaide was christened at the palace chapel. She had 21 godparents.
1794 (25th June)
Adelaide’s sister, Ida Caroline was born to George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
1800 (25th June)
Adelaide’s brother, Bernhard Erich was born to George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
1803 (24th December)
Adelaide’s father died in Meiningen. Adelaide’s mother took charge of the children and ensured they had a good education.
1817 (6th November)
Princess Charlotte of Great Britain, daughter of the heir to the throne, George, died. The sons of King George III needed to marry and produce children in order to secure the succession.
1817 (late)
Negotiations began for a marriage between Adelaide and Prince William of Great Britain.
1818 (19th April)
The engagement of Adelaide and Prince William of Great Britain was announced.
1818 (4th July)
Adelaide met Prince William of Great Britain, her husband to be, for the first time.
1818 (11th July)
Adelaide married Prince William of Great Britain at Kew Palace, Surrey. William’s brother Edward married Victoria of Leiningen at the same ceremony. William and Adelaide began their married life in Hanover, Germany.
1818 (17th November)
William’s mother, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz died at Kew Palace.
1819 (27th March)
A daughter, Charlotte Augusta Louise was born to Adelaide and William in Hanover. She died soon after her birth.
1819 (24th May)
A daughter, Alexandrina Victoria, was born to William’s brother Edward.
1819 (5th September)
Adelaide was delivered of a stillborn child at Calais.
1820 (during)
Adelaide and William moved into Clarence House but spent much of their time at Bushy House. Adelaide was kind and welcoming to William’s 10 illegitimate children.
1820 (23rd January)
William’s brother, Edward died at Woodbrook Cottage, Devon.
1820 (29th January)
William’s brother, George, became King George IV after his father died at Windsor Castle.
1820 (10th December)
A daughter, Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide was born to Adeleide and William at St James’s Palace.
1821 (4th March)
Adelaide’s daughter, Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide died at St James’s Palace of a strangulated hernia.
1821 (19th July)
William’s brother, George, was crowned King George IV at Westminster Abbey.
1822 (8th April)
Adelaide was delivered of stillborn twin boys at Bushy Park.
1827 (5th January)
William’s brother, Frederick Augustus, Duke of York, died at Rutland House, London and William became heir to the throne.
1830 (26th June)
Adelaide’s husband, William, became King William IV when his brother, George died at Windsor Castle.
1830 (After 26th June)
William made Adelaide Ranger of Bushy Park which meant that she could stay in the property for the rest of her life.
1831 (during)
Adelaide was granted the use of Marlborough House, London.
1831 (8th September)
William and Adelaide were crowned King and Queen at Westminster Abbey.
1834 (17th November)
William dismissed Melbourne as Prime Minister and appointed Tory Robert Peel in his stead. As Peel was abroad Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington took over as caretaker Prime Minister. The Times newspaper reported that the King had been influenced by Adelaide who was known to favour the Tories.
1836 (during)
The Australian State of Adelaide was named after Adelaide.
1836 (August)
William had not had a good relationship with his younger brother’s second wife, the Duchess of Kent, whose daughter Victoria was heir to the throne. He expressed his desire that he live until Victoria reached the age of 18 years so that the Duchess would not become regent.
1837 (April)
Adelaide had returned to Hanover as her mother was dying. While there she became very ill and it was feared that she would die but she recovered.
1837 (20th June)
William IV died of heart failure at Windsor Castle. He was succeeded by his niece, Princess Victoria of Kent as Queen Victoria.
1838 (October)
Adelaide’s health was not good so she went to Malta for three months where the climate was milder.
1842 (during)
Adelaide rented Witley Court, Worcestershire from William Ward. While resident in the village she financed the building of a school.
1846 (during)
Adelaide moved to Cassiobury House which she rented from Lord Essex.
1847 (late)
Adelaide spent the winter in Madeira.
1848 (during)
Adelaide moved to Bentley Priory which she rented from Lord Abercom.
1849 (2nd December)
Adelaide died at Bentley Priory. She was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Published Feb 4, 2019 @ 10:35 am – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2019 – 2020). Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen 1792 – 1849. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/adelaide-of-saxe-meiningen-1792-1849. Last accessed [date]