What ever happened to Ernestine de Lambriquét?

Question

Ernestine was Louis XVI's rumoured illegitimate daughter.

I never knew about her until I read (well, I'm reading) 'Marie-Thérèse: Child of Terror' by Susan Nagel.

"[It] was rumoured that Ernestine was not the daughter of a chambermaid and manservant of King Louis XVI's brother as was claimed, but the illegitimate daughter of that same chambermaid and King Louis XVI himself, making her Marie-Thérèse's half-sister. That certainly would have explained not only why Ernestine looked so much like the King but also why she and Marie-Thérèse were often called 'twins' and why she was just a few months older than Madame Royale, and it was not uncommon for illegitimate children of a monarch to be brought up under royal protection alongside legitimate heirs to the throne".

There was a controversy claiming Ernestine posed as Marie-Thérèse and "went onto become the

Duchesse d'Angoulême, Dauphine of France, and, to legitimists, the Queen of France in exile".

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

There is no proof that Louis XVI had any illegitimate children. Ernestine de Lambriquét was reputed to be his illegitimate daughter, however, there is no evidence to suggest this theory. Louis was known for his devotion to his wife, fidelity to his marriage vows and his religious scrupulosity. He did not have an affair with a chambermaid and beget Ernestine.

There was an Ernestine, a child of servants, whom Marie-Antoinette adopted. She adopted two other children as well. The queen came from a large family and liked having lots of children around. There is no evidence that Ernestine was the secret daughter of Louis XVI or of any of the other princes.

The maid, who was a married woman, gave birth to a daughter named Marie-Philippine Lambriquet. Marie-Antoinette eventually adopted the girl and renamed her "Ernestine" after a character in one of her favorite novels.

There are theories to suggest that Ernestine de Lambriquét, did actually become the "the new Madame Royale" and married in 1799 in Mitau, in the interest of Louis XVIII, the Duke of Angoulême, and wore from now on the title Duchess of Angoulême.

The politics of Louis was influenced up to his death in 1824 substantially by the duchess. By the revolution of 1830 she had to leave France again. In 1851 she died on Castle Frohsdorf near Wiener Neustadt, to the south of Vienna. She was buried in the bourbonian family crypt of Nova Gorica.