The family spent the summer and fall in Fulda and the winter and spring in Berlin. From 1804, the family lived in the Niederländische Palais at the Unter den Linden, which had been loaned to them. They also had the use of Schönhausen, a country residence. The children usually stayed behind in Berlin and only visited Fulda a handful of times. The children also sometimes stayed with their grandparents at Oranienstein. The Prince of Orange left England in 1801, and the Princess followed in 1802. In 1805, Pauline spent the entire winter making garters for her grandfather, which she presented to him for his birthday.
In the early hours of 9 April 1806, William V, Prince of Orange, died in exile in Brunswick. At the request of his widow, he lay in state in the Bevernsches Palais. He was initially buried in Brunswick Cathedral, and Wilhelmina and her husband, now the new Prince and Princess of Orange, were in the procession. Wilhelmina was several months pregnant at the time.
Berlin was occupied by the French in 1806, and the family was forced to flee again. Wilhelmina was still weak from giving birth to a stillborn son in August. They travelled towards Königsberg but were forced to stop at Freienwalde when Pauline fell ill. William wrote, “Pauline has a mild indisposition, […] but I expect she will be fully recovered in a day or two.”1 On 15 December, Pauline was diagnosed with “nerve fevers” (probably typhoid fever). Her father still had hope and wrote, “She seems to be doing better.”1
Six-year-old Pauline never did get better. She died in the early hours of 22 December. A heartbroken William wrote to his mother, “We had so hoped that Pauline’s illness would pass, our prayers would be heard, and she would be spared. Unfortunately for us, Providence has decided otherwise, and since 4.30 this morning, we have been plunged into deep mourning. Death has ripped our child, our hope and our love away from us. […] She leaves behind an empty void. Mimi and the boys are hanging in there, but this new test of Providence is heavy for us.”1
While William stayed with Pauline, Wilhelmina and the boys left for Berlin that very same day. She wrote the following day, “My love, the children and I, we arrived in Berlin at 1 o’clock this night, finally. I have taken plenty of precautions for myself and the boys. We shall overcome it. I have not seen General Clarke yet. God willing, you are well. I hope we shall be together again soon. Write to me about our poor little girl as soon as you have buried her. I am worried about you. […] The children talk about their father all the time; they say a thousand sweet things.”2
William arranged for her funeral in Freierwalde and wanted to follow the others to Berlin. Neither he nor Wilhelmina was initially granted access to the city. Eventually, Wilhelmina and the boys were let in. Napoleon was informed of young Pauline’s death and approved Wilhelmina’s stay in Berlin, but he was not so kind to William. William was arrested and deported over the Oder and was ordered to go to the Prussian King. Three weeks later, a devastated Wilhelmina wrote, “What a calamity, what a disaster that we have lost Pauline, our sweet, sweet little one. I can’t stop crying.”2 The loss of their baby, Pauline and William V, had hit them hard, but they also lost several lands because of Napoleon in 1806. It had become a very difficult year indeed.
William was eventually released and travelled hastily to be with Wilhelmina, even doing the final bit in a single stretch of 93 hours. About their reunion, he wrote, “My wife was still up, my dearest mother, and you can easily imagine the mutual satisfaction we experienced when we met again. She couldn’t wait to see me and received me in a way that completely surprised me.”3
While the health of their two sons was exemplary, William was most concerned about Wilhelmina. He wrote, “Mimi assures me that she is well now, & she no longer complains of faintness or weakness. Yet I see that the events have made a deep impression on her. She is much thinner and paler than normal, although she may not look as good because she wasn’t wearing any blush, which gave her a very different appearance”3
Meanwhile, William’s sister Louise had also been widowed, and their mother wanted nothing more than to be with Louise. However, Brunswick, too, would be swallowed up by Napoleon in 1807, and the two women ended up in Schleswig, where they shared a bedroom. After a year, they returned to Berlin, where they were reunited with the rest of the family. During the next few years, they would have severe financial difficulties.
Wilhelmina had never had much fervour for politics, and she wrote, “As for me, who is not concerned with the major issues of Europe, I spend my time bathing and toileting in the morning with Queen Luise, followed by lunch, also with her. Then, we watch the troops exercising in the garden. That means I don’t do anything in the afternoon, and I barely manage to think of anything for the evening.”4 She was a caring mother and had a tight grip on the education of their sons, William and Frederick.
Between 1807 and 1812, William fathered four children, with one Maria Dorothea Hoffmann. This was possibly a fake name for one of Wilhelmina’s ladies-in-waiting.5 It is unclear what Wilhelmina knew about these children as not all of her letters have survived. His mother certainly knew about the affair, and she wrote him a scathing letter. She blamed him for hurting his wife, the bad example he was setting for his sons and how he was risking a huge scandal. She added, “You are not in a bad marriage and could and should have found comfort at home.”6 He continued to see Maria Dorothea despite his mother’s pleas.
Part four coming soon.
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