Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel

Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel (German: Luise Karoline von Hessen-Kassel; 28 September 1789 – 13 March 1867) was the consort of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and the matriarch of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which would eventually become the ruling house of the kingdoms of Denmark, Greece, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Louise Caroline was born at Gottorp in the Duchy of Schleswig to Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel (19 December 1744 – 17 August 1836) and his wife Princess Louise of Denmark (30 January 1750 – 12 January 1831). Her elder sister Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel (28 October 1767 – 21 March 1852) became Queen consort of Frederick VI of Denmark.

Friedrich Wilhelm and Louise Caroline married in 1810. The couple had ten children:

• Princess Luise Marie Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (23 October 1810 – 11 May 1869).
• Princess Friederike Karoline Juliane of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (9 October 1811 – 10 July 1902).
• Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (30 September 1813 – 24 October 1878).
• Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (23 October 1814 – 27 November 1885).
• Prince Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (10 April 1816 – 5 September 1893).
• Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (8 April 1818 – 29 January 1906); later Christian IX of Denmark.
• Princess Luise, Abbess of Itzehoe (18 November 1820 – 30 November 1894).
• Prince Julius of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (14 October 1824 – 1 June 1903).
• Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (5 December 1825 – 27 May 1911).
• Prince Nikolaus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (22 December 1828 – 18 August 1849).

Louise Caroline's son, Prince Christian, was named third-in-line to the throne of Christian VIII of Denmark in 1847. He succeeded his childless cousin, Frederick VII of Denmark, on 15 November 1863, the Hereditary Prince Ferdinand having deceased somewhat earlier.

Her grandchildren included (among others) King Frederick VIII of Denmark, Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, Empress Marie Feodorovna of All the Russias, King George I of the Hellenes and Crown Princess Thyra of Hanover.

At the time of her death, she was the last surviving grandchild of Frederick V of Denmark.

• 28 September 1789 – 26 January 1810: Her Serene Highness Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel
• 26 January 1810 – 25 March 1816: Her Serene Highness The Hereditary Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• 25 March 1816 – 6 July 1825: Her Serene Highness The Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• 6 July 1825 – 17 February 1831: Her Serene Highness The Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
• 17 February 1831 – 13 March 1867: Her Serene Highness The Dowager Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg