A royal affair
In the Tower Gallery at Christiansborg Palace the royal portraits hang in a row, but three of them have a particularly dramatic history. Caroline Mathilde, Christian VII and Struensee's history is one of the most famous in Danish history and a large part of it unfolded right here on Slotsholmen.
Caroline Mathilde became Queen of Denmark when she and Christian VII married in 1766. She was the daughter of Prince Frederick Ludwig of Wales and sister of King George III of England. Caroline Mathilde was the mother of Frederik VI and Princess Louise Augusta.
Caroline Mathilde's marriage to the insane Christian VII isolated her at court. In 1770, she began a love affair with the king's physician J.F. Struensee, and Louise Augusta, whom she gave birth to in 1771, was probably his daughter. After Struensee's fall the following year, Caroline Mathilde was arrested and she admitted to the adultery. Her marriage to Christian VII was annulled and she was banished. She lived her last years at the castle in Celle, Germany.
Caroline Mathilde is a tragic figure; at a very young age, the vivacious queen was plunged into a series of events whose consequences she could not foresee. Due to rumors about her and Struensee, as well as allegations of a very harsh upbringing of the crown prince, she was very unpopular among the population.
Furthermore, Caroline Mathilde refused to ride in a classic ladies' saddle and instead rode astride - in a men's saddle. The controversial saddle can be seen in the Stable Museum here at Christiansborg Palace The Royal stables and riding arena at the castle have survived two castle fires, so you can still experience the same stables that Caroline Mathilde rode in.
