Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen: The Childless Queen Mother

Massey, Joseph

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-12829-5_6

Joseph Massey⁸

Part of the book series: Queenship and Power ((QAP))

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Abstract

Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen married George III’s son, William, Duke of Clarence, during a crisis. George’s only legitimate grandchild had died in 1817, leaving the future of the royal succession uncertain. It was important that William and Adelaide provide heirs to the throne, but none of their children lived for more than four months. This chapter explores Adelaide’s experience—and lack of experience—of motherhood, and how this shaped her life as royal duchess, queen consort, and queen dowager. It demonstrates that Adelaide’s maternal affection went beyond the political necessity of providing royal heirs, as she forged close relationships with her nephews and nieces—focusing especially on Adelaide’s relationship with her husband’s eventual successor, Queen Victoria. Differences of political opinion threatened to tear them apart, but by carefully avoiding confrontation, Adelaide preserved her position as effective Queen Mother of the British royal family.

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Notes

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Independent Scholar, UK
Joseph Massey

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Joseph Massey
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University Campus North Lincolnshire, England, UK
Aidan Norrie
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Carolyn Harris
University of Reading, Reading, UK
J.L. Laynesmith
York, UK
Danna R. Messer
University of Winchester, Winchester, UK
Elena Woodacre

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Massey, J. (2023). Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen: The Childless Queen Mother. In: Norrie, A., Harris, C., Laynesmith, J., Messer, D.R., Woodacre, E. (eds) Hanoverian to Windsor Consorts. Queenship and Power. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12829-5_6

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12829-5_6
Published: 25 February 2023
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-12828-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-12829-5
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