Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Louisa at the Devonshire House Ball of 1897, dressed as Elizabeth, Duchess of Buccleuch. by John Thomson, photogravure by Walker & Boutall, 1897, published 1899. source: National Portrait Gallery, NPG Ax41088

Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1885 to 1886 and again from 1895 until the Queen died in 1901. She continued to serve as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Alexandra until 1912. The Mistress of the Robes was always a Duchess and attended Queen Victoria on every State occasion. She had precedence over every lady of the Court and when in residence, presided at the Household table. She looked over and passed on the Queen’s personal bills sent to her from the Robes Office. During Queen Victoria’s reign, the Mistress of the Robes was a political appointment and changed when the political party of the government changed.

Born Lady Louisa Jane Hamilton on August 26, 1836 in Brighton, Sussex, England, she was the daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and Lady Louisa Jane Russell. She had 13 siblings:

Louisa’s father had served as Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert, from February 1846 until June 1859, and was a member of the Privy Council. He served twice as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from 1866 to 1868, and again from 1874 to 1876. In 1878, as Queen Victoria’s official representative, he invested King Umberto I of Italy with the Order of the Garter. He later served as Chancellor of the University of Ireland from 1881 until 1885.

The Marchioness of Lansdowne (née Lady Maud Hamilton), Louisa’s sister. source: Wikipedia

Several of her siblings served in the Royal Household as well. Her brother Claud served as an Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria from 1887-1897; and her sister Maud, Marchioness of Lansdowne, served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra from 1905 until 1909, and as an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber from 1909 until Queen Alexandra died in 1925. Another brother Frederick served as an aide-de-camp to the Governor-General of Canada and is credited as being the one who first introduced skiing in Canada in 1887.

William Montagu Douglas Scott, Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. source: Wikipedia

On November 22, 1859, in London, Louisa married William Montagu Douglas Scott, Earl of Dalkeith (later the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and 8th Duke of Queensberry). He was the son of Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry, and Lady Charlotte Thynne (who had previously served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1841-1846). Louisa and her husband had eight children:

  • Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, Earl of Dalkeith (1861-1886) – unmarried
  • John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch (1864-1935) – married Lady Margaret Bridgeman, had issue
  • Lord George Montagu Douglas Scott (1866-1947) – married Lady Elizabeth Manners, had issue
  • Lord Henry Montagu Douglas Scott (1868-1945) – unmarried
  • Lord Herbert Montagu Douglas Scott (1872-1944) – married Marie Edwards, had issue
  • Lady Katharine Montagu Douglas Scott (1875-1951) – married Thomas Brand, 3rd Viscount Hampden, had issue
  • Lady Constance Montagu Douglas Scott (1877-1970) – married The Hon. Douglas Halyburton Cairns, had issue
  • Lord Francis Montagu Douglas Scott (1879-1952) – married Lady Eileen Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, had issue

Through her son, the 7th Duke, Louisa is the grandmother of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; and through her son Lord Herbert, she is the great-great-grandmother of Sarah, Duchess of York.

Louisa was twice appointed Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria, both times during the government of The Marquess of Salisbury. Her first appointment was from 1885 to 1886, and then from 1895 until The Queen’s death in January 1901.  She remained Mistress of the Robes to Queen Alexandra and served until her own death in 1912.

The Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry died at Dalkeith Palace in Midlothian, Scotland on March 16, 1912. She is buried in the family crypt at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, at Dalkeith Palace.

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