Louise Montagu, Duchess of Manchester

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Louise Montagu, Duchess of Manchester. source: Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 2809221

Louise Montagu, Duchess of Manchester served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria briefly from 1858-1859. 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 presided at the Household table when in residence. Louise looked over and passed on Queen Victoria’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.

Because of her second marriage to the Duke of Devonshire years later, she became known as “The Double Duchess”, and is renowned for throwing the famed Devonshire House Ball of 1897.  She was born Luise Friederike Auguste, Countess von Alten on June 15, 1832, in Hanover, the daughter of Karl Franz Viktor, Count von Alten and Hermine de Schminke.  Luise had three siblings:

  • Helene von Alten (1830-1890) – married Count André Bludoff
  • Guidobaldine von Alten (1838-1922) – married (1) Auguste Grote; (2) Hermann von Bülow
  • Julie von Alten (1835-1915) – married Emil von Albedyll

William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester. source: Wikipedia

In Hanover on July 22, 1852, Luisa married William Montagu, Viscount Mandeville (later the 7th Duke of Manchester). He was the son of George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester and Millicent Sparrow.

The couple had five children:

She became Louise Montagu, Viscountess Mandeville upon marriage, and then Duchess of Manchester upon her father-in-law’s death in 1855. Her home was Kimbolton Castle in Cambridgeshire, the family seat of the Dukes of Manchester since 1615. The couple also spent time at Tandragee Castle in Northern Ireland, built in the 1830s by Louise’s father-in-law.

In 1858, Louise was appointed Mistress of the Robes in March 1858 and served until June 1859. She was both preceded and succeeded in the position by Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland. In addition to serving Queen Victoria, Louise became friends with The Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family. These friendships would last for the rest of her life.

Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire. source: Wikipedia

After separating from her husband, Louise began a relationship with Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, the heir to the Dukedom of Devonshire. He was the son of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire and Lady Blanche Howard. Following her husband’s death in 1890, the widowed Louise and Spencer, by then the 8th Duke of Devonshire, married at Christ Church in Mayfair, London on August 16, 1892. They had no children.

As Duchess of Devonshire, Louise had numerous residences at her disposal. These included Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire; Devonshire House in Piccadilly – the family’s London residence; Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, and Lismore Castle in County Waterford, Ireland.

The Duchess of Devonshire, dressed as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra. photograph by Walker & Boutall, July 1897. source: National Portrait Gallery NPG Ax41001

At Devonshire House, Louise hosted a lavish costume ball to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Held on July 2, 1897, the Devonshire House Ball saw many royals in attendance, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, The Duke and Duchess of Fife, Princess Victoria, The Duke Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, The Duke and Duchess of Teck, Prince Charles and Princess Maud of Denmark, The Emperor and Empress of Russia, Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich of Russia and The Countess of Torby, the Maharajah Duleep Singh and Prince Victor Duleep Singh. Also in attendance were many members of the British aristocracy and London society. The Duchess of Devonshire dressed as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra. The ball was the highlight of the 1897 London Season.

Louise was widowed again in March 1908. Three years later, The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire passed away on July 15, 1911, after suffering a seizure while attending the Sandown Races in Esher Park. She is buried in the churchyard at St. Peter’s Church in Edensor, the traditional burial site of the Dukes of Devonshire and their families.

Several members of Louise’s family later served in the Royal Household of Queen Alexandra. Her daughter Louisa, Countess of Gosford, served as a Lady of the Bedchamber from 1901 until Queen Alexandra died in 1925. Louisa’s husband, The Earl of Gosford, also served as Vice-Chamberlain of The Queen’s Household from 1901 until he died in 1922. Another daughter, Alice, Countess of Derby served as a Lady of the Bedchamber from 1901 until 1910, and then as an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber from 1910 until 1925.

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

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