Christiane Andrea "Karen" Wedel-Jarlsberg (née Anker; 2 November 1789 in Christiania (now

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

) – 19 June 1849 on

Bogstad Bogstad Manor (''Bogstad gård'') is a historic Manor House and former estate located in the borough of Vestre Aker in Oslo, Norway. It is situated in the northwestern part of Oslo. Background Bogstad has its origin in a farm which was located ...

gård), was a Norwegian countess and

lady in waiting A lady-in-waiting or court lady is a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman but of lower rank than the woman to whom sh ...

Life

Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg was the only surviving child and heir of landowner and prime minister

Peder Anker Peder Anker (8 December 1749 – 10 December 1824) was a prominent Norwegian landowner, businessman and politician. He served as the prime minister of Norway from 1814 until 1822. Biography Peder Anker was a member of a Danish-Norwegian nob ...

and Anna Elisabeth Cold (1749–1803). She was one of the richest heirs in Norway. She married count

Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg Count Johan Caspar Herman Wedel Jarlsberg (21 September 1779 – 27 August 1840) was a Norwegian statesman and nobleman. He played an active role in the constitutional assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814 and was the first native Norwegian to hold the ...

19 May 1807 on Bogstad. Her spouse was one of the influential Norwegians who supported a union between Norway and Sweden.

Court career

In 1814, Norway and Sweden were united and shared the same royal house. During the visits of the royal family in Norway, it was to have a separate Norwegian court, who met them at the border and served them during their stay in Norway. Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg was given the task to be the head lady in waiting of the first Norwegian court since the Middle Ages. From 1817 onward, she served as principal lady-in-waiting to three Swedish-Norwegian queens in succession:

Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp ( sv, Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta; 22 March 1759 – 20 June 1818) was Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIII and II. She was also a famed diarist, memoirist and wit. She is k ...

Désirée Clary Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary ( sv, Eugenia Bernhardina Desideria; 8 November 1777 – 17 December 1860) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 5 February 1818 to 8 March 1844 as the wife of King Charles XIV John. Charles John was a former Fre ...

and

Josephine of Leuchtenberg Joséphine of Leuchtenberg (Joséphine Maximilienne Eugénie Napoléone de Beauharnais; 14 March 1807 – 7 June 1876) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 8 March 1844 to 8 July 1859 as the wife of King Oscar I. She was also Princess of Bologna f ...

, first with the title ''hovmastarinna'' ('Court mistress') and from 1825 as ''overhoffmesterinne'' ('Chief court mistress'). Initially, her office was purely honorary, as queen Charlotte never visited Norway. She served for the first time when crown princess Josephine visited Norway in 1824. Queen Desiree mainly stayed in Sweden, but did visit Norway a couple of times between 1827 and 1847. In 1844, Josephine became queen. Wedel-Jarlsberg initially remained in office, but asked to be relieved of her position in 1845.Yngvar Hauge & Nini Egeberg: Bogstad, 1773-1995. H. Aschehoug (1960)

Notes

Sources

* Cecilia af Klercker (1942). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok IX (1812–1817). Stockholm: Norstedt & Söners förlag. page 710 * Yngvar Hauge & Nini Egeberg: Bogstad, 1773–1995. H. Aschehoug (1960) 1789 births 1849 deaths 18th-century Norwegian nobility Norwegian ladies-in-waiting Mistresses of the Robes (Norway) 19th-century Norwegian women {{norway-bio-stub