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Pauline Princess of Orange-NassauPrincess of the House of Orange
Date of Birth: 01.03.1800
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Early Life and Family
Pauline of Orange-Nassau was born in Berlin on March 1, 1800, during her family's exile from the Netherlands under French occupation. The third child and first daughter of King William I of the Netherlands and Wilhelmina of Prussia, she was the younger sibling of future King William II and Prince Frederick of the Netherlands. Two stillborn children were born to her parents before and after her birth, and a younger sister, Marianne, was born four years later.
Flight from Berlin
In 1806, Pauline's family fled Berlin to Königsberg to escape the advancing French troops. Suffering from poor health, Pauline's condition worsened during the arduous journey. On December 15, 1806, her condition became critical, and she died a week later, on December 22. Sources differ on her exact location of death, which may have been the temporary home of the mayor or the royal Prussian estate of Freienwalde.
Burial and Rediscovery
Pauline was initially buried in Freienwalde, but her grave was neglected. In 1909, the new owner of Freienwalde discovered a tombstone with Pauline's name. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was notified and ordered the exhumation of her remains.
Final Resting Place
In March 1911, Pauline's remains were escorted to the Netherlands by Dutch diplomats and finally laid to rest in the Royal Crypt at the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft on April 7, 1911. Her tombstone bears the inscription: "Frederika Louisa Pauline Charlotte Wilhelmina Princess of Orange-Nassau, Born in Berlin March 1, 1800, Died in Freienwalde December 22, 1806."
