Editing Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (section)

==Early life==
Princess Augusta was born in [[Gotha (town)|Gotha]] to [[Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]] (1676–1732) and [[Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst]] (1679–1740). Her paternal grandfather was [[Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]], eldest surviving son of [[Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha|Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]].

In 1736, it was proposed that she marry 29-year-old [[Frederick, Prince of Wales]], eldest son of [[George II of Great Britain]] and his queen consort [[Caroline of Ansbach]]. Originally, Frederick was intended to marry Princess [[Louisa Ulrika of Prussia|Louisa Ulrika]], eldest unmarried daughter of [[Frederick William I of Prussia]]. A marriage alliance between [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] and [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] had been an ambition for many years. However, when George II suggested that his eldest son would marry Louisa Ulrika, while [[Princess Caroline of Great Britain|his second (unmarried) daughter]] would marry [[Frederick the Great|the eldest son]] of the Prussian king, Frederick William demanded that his eldest son should likewise marry the [[Princess Amelia of Great Britain|eldest (unmarried) daughter]] of the king of Great Britain, and George II refused to agree to this demand.<ref name=Finchp284>Finch, Barbara Clay: [https://archive.org/stream/livesofprincesse02finc#page/284/mode/2up Lives of the princesses of Wales. Part II]</ref>

Around the time the Prussian plan was cancelled, there were rumours that Frederick might marry [[Diana Russell, Duchess of Bedford]], granddaughter of [[Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough]], and that such a marriage had been proposed when he visited the Duchess's lodge at Richmond.<ref name=Finchp284/> Queen Caroline felt a need to arrange a marriage for her son quickly, to preempt any possibility of such a mésalliance. She therefore suggested to the King that, when he next visited the [[Electorate of Hanover]], he should also visit [[Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]] and view the princesses there. The King did so, and informed the Queen that he considered Augusta suitable. When the matter was broached with Frederick, he simply replied that he would accept any bride his father decided was suitable for him. His attitude arose from a desire to obtain an additional allowance from [[Parliament of Great Britain|Parliament]] to be financially independent of his father.<ref>Van der Kiste, John (1997) George II and Queen Caroline. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7509-1321-5}}. p 154</ref>

Augusta did not speak French or English, and it was suggested that she be given lessons before the wedding, but her mother did not consider it necessary, as the British royal family were from Germany.<ref name=Finchp284/> She arrived in Britain, speaking virtually no English, aged 16, for a wedding ceremony which took place almost immediately, on {{OldStyleDate|8 May|1736|27 April}}, at the [[Chapel Royal]] in [[St James's Palace, London]].<ref>John Burke and Bernard Burke, ''Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage'' 60 (Burke's Peerage, 1898), cxv; and online genealogy: gw.geneanet.org/tdowling</ref>