Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, sixteen and speaking virtually no English, had arrived in Great Britain in order to marry twenty-eight-year old Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II and Queen Caroline.

The wedding ceremony had taken place almost immediately, on April 27, 1736, at the Chapel Royal in St. James's Palace, London.

The marriage seems to have been a happy one.

Augusta and Frederick will have nine children, the last born after Frederick's death.

The birth of their first daughter, Princess Augusta, on August 31, 1737, takes place at St. James's after Princess Augusta is forced by Frederick to travel from Hampton Court Palace while in labor, simply to prevent his hated parents from being present at the birth.

Augusta was born in Gotha to Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1676–1732) and Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst (1676–1740).

Her paternal grandfather was Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, eldest surviving son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg.