Louise of Hesse-Kassel

Louise of Hesse-Kassel was born on 7 September 1817 in Kassel, the daughter of Prince William of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Charlotte of Denmark. She was a niece of King Christian VIII of Denmark and a cousin of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. She lived in Denmark from the age of three and was very close to the succession after several elderly and childless relatives. She married her second cousin Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg in 1842. He became King Christian IX of Denmark in 1863 after the death of King Frederick VII. Louise was the queen consort of Denmark from 1863 until her death in 1898. She was also the mother of six children who became monarchs or consorts in various European countries: Frederick VIII of Denmark, Alexandra of the United Kingdom, George I of Greece, Maria Feodorovna of Russia, Thyra of Hanover and Valdemar of Denmark. She was known as a modest, kind and pious woman who supported her husband and children in their royal duties. She also established the House of Glücksburg on the Danish throne, which still reigns today. She died on 29 September 1898 at Bernstorff Palace in Gentofte, Denmark, and was buried at Roskilde Cathedral.