Emma Portman, Baroness Portman, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Emma Portman, Baroness Portman, circa 1842; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Emma Portman, Baroness Portman

Emma Portman, Baroness Portman, served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1851, and then as an Extra Lady between 1851 and 1865. Ladies of the Bedchamber were always wives of peers. Only one Lady of the Bedchamber was in waiting at a time. She was always ready to attend to the Queen. The Lady-in-Waiting attended all State occasions and presided over the Household table when the Mistress of the Robes was not in residence. A Lady of the Bedchamber had two to three waits a year from twelve to thirty days at a time.

Born Emma Lascelles on March 16, 1809, she was the daughter of Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood and Henrietta Sebright. Emma had ten siblings:

  • Hon. Edward Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (1796) – married (1) Ann Elizabeth Rosser, no issue; (2) Philippine Munster, no issue
  • Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood (1797) – married Lady Louisa Thynne, had issue
  • William Lascelles (1798) – married Lady Caroline Howard, had issue
  • Hon. Edwin Lascelles (1799) – unmarried
  • Hon. Francis Lascelles (1801) – unmarried
  • Lady Harriet Lascelles (1802) – married George Holroyd, 2nd Earl of Sheffield, had issue
  • Hon. Frederick Lascelles (1803) – unmarried
  • Lady Frances Lascelles (1804) – married John Hope, had issue
  • Hon. Arthur Lascelles (1807) – married Caroline Brooke, had issue
  • Lady Louisa Lascelles (1812) – married Lord George Cavendish, had issue

Emma’s brother William served as Comptroller of the Household from 1847 until 1851. He was married to a sister of Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland. And her brother Henry was married to a sister of Charlotte, Duchess of Buccleuch. Both Duchesses served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria.

Edward Berkeley Portman, 1st Viscount Portman, by Samuel William Reynolds Jr, published by Thomas Agnew, and published by Ackermann & Co, after Richard Ansdell stipple engraving, published 6 July 1846. source: National Portrait Gallery, NPG D40381

On June 16, 1827, Emma married Edward Portman, the son of Edward Berkeley Portman and Lucy Whitby. He was created Baron Portman of Orchard Portman in January 1837, and would later become 1st Viscount Portman several years after Emma’s death. Their children included:

Emma first met Queen Victoria in 1835 when the young Princess visited Harewood House, the home of Lascelles family. Despite their ten-year age difference, the two began a friendship that would last until Emma’s death. So it was very fitting that shortly after her accession, in June 1837, Victoria wrote to Emma asking her to become one of her Ladies in Waiting. Emma accepted the same day and served from 1837 until 1851. Emma is mentioned often in Queen Victoria’s journals, with the Queen observing that she ‘could be more intimate with her than with any of the others’ – a sign of the close relationship the two held.

Like several of the other ladies at court, Emma became involved in the Flora Hastings scandal, spreading the gossip that Lady Flora was pregnant by Sir John Conroy. After it was discovered to be untrue, and in fact Lady Flora was suffering from cancer, Emma and the others saw their reputations tarnished greatly. But they weathered the storm, and Emma remained a close confidante to The Queen. She stepped down from service in 1851, but was appointed an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber, and held that role until her death.

Emma Portman, Baroness Portman died on February 8, 1865. The Queen recorded the death in her journal, expressing her shock and sadness at the loss of her friend.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Recommended Book – Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard