Because extensive renovation work had to be carried out at Celle Castle before Caroline Matilda could move in, she was temporarily housed at the Jagdschloss Göhrde (hunting lodge). The lodge, situated to the east of Lüneburg, was built on a hunting ground that was regularly used by Welf rulers. This meant that it was in such good condition that the queen and her new Hanoverian court were able to move in at short notice.
In the meantime, George III had Celle Castle renovated and furnished, with formal and private rooms for Caroline Matilda in the east wing and rooms for the staff in the south wing. He also had the theatre renovated, although this work was not finished until 1774.
Vilhelm Theodor Søborg
Lithograph, 19th century
Bomann Museum Celle
BF00161
Until her departure, Caroline Matilda was held at the Danish fortress of Kronborg in Elsinore, 50 km north of Copenhagen.
(“Dronning Caroline Mathildes Bortforelse til Kronborg den 17de Januar 1772”)
F.C. Lund
Print, 1861
Bomann Museum Celle
BDR02672
(“I wish I could have saved them both”)
Pen drawing
Christian VII (?), 1772
Reproduction © Danish State Archives
This drawing, attributed to Christian VII, is now housed in the Danish State Archives (Rigsarkivet).
It says:
Count Struensee, a very great man, died in 1772 on the orders of Queen Juliane and Prince Frederik, and not on mine. And by the will of the State Council.
Count Brandt, a fine, wild man, died in 1772 in the same place as Struensee.
I would have liked to save them both. But it was the will of the Queen and Prince Frederik.