.. in the arms of her beloved husband in 1810.  He refused to remarry, but did so 14 years later for political reasons.  Frederick eventually remarried and had more children. Pictured here is Helene Luise Elisabeth of Mecklenburg, the granddaughter of Frederick through his 2nd marriage.  Her father was the …

… raised up the idea of Luise, “the soul of national value” as the ideal Nazi woman.  They used her image in propoganda, and the portraits related to the Nazi cause are of Luise, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of the former King of Prussia. (Nazi posters based on the ideal …

… one who would become Frederick Wilhelm IV of Prussia, and one German Emperor Wilhelm I. (Portrait: Luise and Frederick in 1806 with their children)

It appears people saw her as their ideal; as they would picture their perfect woman.  Some saw her with golden hair, some with brown, and others dark brown.  It’s too bad there were no cameras in 1805. (portraits: Luise of Prussia in early Regency evening gowns which were pastels)

… Luise of Prussia was very popular, well loved, and well painted by many.

.. approaching 1810, we note the Regency style has picked up more ornamental elements.  As typical of royalty, there is a lot of gold embroidery.  

… “the soul of national value”.  The Russians created the “Order of the Louise”, which was like the Iron Cross in honoring those who fought valiantly. Statues extolling her virtues were raised across the country. (The order of Louise medal, and Louise herself in about 1805)

.. Here she shows court fashion to please Napoleon in adding more trim, ornament, and layers of clothing to the early (1804 estimate) “little white dress” that was the current Regency fashion.

… Napoleon liked her very much; her countrymen loved her very much.  She met with Napoleon to plead the Russian cause; to get him to leave them alone. (Painting: the meeting of Luise with Napoleon I in her attempt to get Napoleon to “lay off” Prussia in his efforts to …

.. and intentionally became fluent in French, as she felt it was the language of diplomacy.  She had been sent away from her German family to be raised by her grandmother, who trained her in politics. (portrait: Luise in late 18th century robe.  Note the powdered hair typical of the …