Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp

Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp
Portrait by Carl Frederik von Breda, 1809
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure5 June 1809 – 5 February 1818
Coronation29 June 1809
Queen consort of Norway
Tenure4 November 1814 – 5 February 1818
Born(1759-03-22)22 March 1759
Eutin, Prince-bishopric of Lübeck (now Germany)
Died20 June 1818(1818-06-20) (aged 59)
Stockholm, Sweden
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1774; died 1818)
IssuePrincess Louise Hedvig
Prince Carl Adolf, Duke of Värmland
HouseHolstein-Gottorp
FatherFrederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg
MotherUlrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel
ReligionLutheranism
SignatureHedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp's signature
Wedding medal of the duke and duchess 1774

Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp (Swedish: Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta; 22 March 1759 – 20 June 1818) was the queen consort of Charles XIII of Sweden and II of Norway. She was also a famed diarist, memoirist and wit. She is known as Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte, though her official name as queen was Charlotte (Charlotta).

She was born in Eutin the daughter of Duke Frederick August I of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Ulrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel. She grew up in Eutin and married her cousin Charles, Duke of Södermanland, in Stockholm on 7 July 1774 when she was fifteen years old. The marriage was arranged by King Gustav III to provide the throne of Sweden with an heir. The King had not consummated his marriage and had decided to give the task of providing an heir to the throne to his brother.