The Flower Queen and Mirow Castle

You can imagine how little Sophie Charlotte studied the wallpaper with the painted roses and carnations as she wandered through her parents' Mirow Castle - and her interest in botany was awakened.

No one could have guessed at the time that the princess would soon become one of the most powerful women in the world. In 1761, George III of Great Britain chose the 17-year-old from the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz as his wife. Today, the world knows her primarily by her nickname „Queen of Botany“, the Queen of Flowers.

The newly crowned Queen found her greatest happiness in the gardens of London, Kew and Hampton Court, with which she was actively involved. It is also thanks to the Queen of Botany that London's parks and gardens were soon among the most famous in Europe.

And when a plant species with erect, blue-orange leaves was discovered in southern Africa, the choice was easy: it was named Strelitzia reginae in honor of the Queen and her homeland.

At Mirow Castle, the life of the Queen of Flowers is told in a modern way in an entertaining exhibition. It is about the journey to England and the medallion with the king's portrait, which she carried with her to recognize her unknown husband after her arrival.

It is also about the rise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz into the league of important dynasties. The flower named after the duchy can of course also be seen: a single Strelitzia stands in a vase right by the cash desk and does honor to the „Queen of Botany“.