Marie Henriette of Austria was born on July 23, 1836, in Vienna, Austria. She was the daughter of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary and Princess Maria Dorothea of Bavaria. In 1857, she married Leopold II, the King of the Belgians, becoming the Queen consort of Belgium. Throughout her life, Marie Henriette was known for her charitable work and support of the arts. She faced personal challenges, including the death of her children and her husband's struggles with mental health. Marie Henriette passed away on September 19, 1902, in Spa, Belgium.