His Majesty The King

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Æthelstan, regarded as the first true king of England, presenting a book to St. Cuthbert, the earliest surviving portrait of an English king, circa 930; Credit – Wikipedia

king – noun – a male sovereign or monarch; a man who holds by life tenure, and usually by hereditary right, the chief authority over a country and people.

Origin of the word king – first used before 900 in Middle English; from Old English cyng, cyning; *cognate of German König, Dutch koning, Old Norse konungr, Swedish konung, Danish konge

*cognate – descended from the same language

from https://www.dictionary.com

Map of today’s United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Credit – Denver Public Library

From England to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

From the beginning of human civilization, there was someone who was in charge of groups of people – head of a family, tribal leader, a village chieftain – leading eventually to some kind of hereditary leader. In Old English, the word cyn (meaning kin, tribe, people) was changed into a different word by adding the suffix –ing. The new word cyning meant descendant of one of noble birth and eventually became the English word king.

Æthelstan (circa 894 – 939) became the first king to rule all of England when he conquered Northumbria in 927. He is generally regarded by historians as the first true king of England. The title Rex Anglorum in Latin (King of the English) was first used to describe Æthelstan in a 928 charter. King of the English remained in use until King John became king in 1199 when the title became King of England.

An invasion of Ireland starting in 1169 by King Henry II eventually brought about the end of rule High Kings of Ireland. In 1177, King Henry II gave the part of Ireland he controlled at that time to his ten-year-old son John as a Lordship and John became Lord of Ireland. When John succeeded as King of England in 1199, he remained Lord of Ireland, bringing the Kingdom of England and the Lordship of Ireland into personal union. In 1284, the territory of the King of England increased when the Principality of Wales was incorporated into the Kingdom of England under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. The title of King of Ireland was re-created in 1542 during the reign of King Henry VIII.  All of Ireland remained under British rule until the Irish Free State, today’s Republic of Ireland, became independent in 1922.

While British sovereigns had other titles which will be dealt with in another article, the titles King of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom will be dealt with here. In 1603, Queen Elizabeth I died childless and James VI, King of Scots also became King James I of England, joining the crowns of England and Scotland in a personal union, the combination of two or more states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain separate. This practice continued through the Stuart dynasty until 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, when England and Scotland were formally united into Great Britain by the Acts of Union 1707. The sovereign then was King/Queen of Great Britain.

In 1800, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created by the Acts of Union 1800 and King George III went from being titled King of Great Britain to King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1922, the Irish Free State, today’s Republic of Ireland, gained independence. Northern Ireland remained under British control and is still a part of today’s United Kingdom. The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 recognized the change in the status of Ireland and also recognized the various British dominions and so the sovereign’s title became King/Queen of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas. In 1953, separate styles and titles were adopted for each of the realms over which the sovereign reigned, for instance, King/Queen of Canada. The sovereign then became King/Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His/Her other Realms and Territories.

For more information, see

The King’s Styles

Over the years, sovereigns were occasionally and indiscriminately styled as My Lord/My Lady, His/Her Grace, His/Her Highness and His/Her Majesty. Around 1519, the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of France assumed the style Majesty and King Henry VIII copied them. Previous English sovereigns had sometimes used Majesty but it became more common during Henry VIII’s reign. However, it was not used exclusively. A legal judgment issued during King Henry VIII’s reign used three different styles: Article 15 begins with, “The Kinges Highness”, Article 16 with, “The Kinges Majestie”, and Article 17 with, “The Kinges Grace.” It was not until the reign of King James I that Majesty became the official style.

Regnal Numbers

Regnal numbers are used to distinguish sovereigns with the same name. If only one sovereign has used a particular name, no regnal number is used. For example, Queen Victoria is not known as Victoria I. During the reign of the House of Stuart, some sovereigns had two different regnal numbers because they were sovereigns of both England and Scotland. For instance, King James VI of Scotland was also King James I of England as he was the sixth King of Scots with the name James and the first King of England with the name James. When England and Scotland were united with the Acts of Union 1707, sovereigns followed the numbering consistent with the English sequence of sovereigns. This caused some controversy in Scotland. When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne, the controversy arose again. She was the second Elizabeth to reign in England but the first Elizabeth to reign in Scotland. In 1953, Prime Minister Winston Churchill suggested that in the future, the higher of the two regnal numbers from the English and Scottish sequences should always be used.

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.

Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill, photographed in Darmstadt, 1862. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2906937

Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill, a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1854 until 1900, was the longest-serving member of Queen Victoria’s household. 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 Lady Jane Conyngham on June 1, 1826, she was the eldest daughter of Francis Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles (later 2nd Marquess Conyngham) and Lady Jane Paget, and had five siblings:

Lord Conyngham (left) paying homage to the new Queen Victoria, with the Archbishop of Canterbury. source: Wikipedia

Royal service was quite common in Jane’s family. Her father, Francis, had served as a Page of Honour to the future King George IV and later served as Groom of the Bedchamber and Master of the Robes to King George IV between 1820 and 1830. He later served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household to King William IV and Queen Victoria from 1835 until 1839. It was Francis, accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who arrived at Kensington Palace in the early morning of June 20, 1837 to inform Victoria that she was now Queen. He was the first person to address the young Victoria as “Your Majesty”.

Elizabeth, Countess Conyngham, 1801 portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence. source: Wikipedia

Jane’s paternal grandmother, The Marchioness of Conyngham (born Elizabeth Denison), was the longtime mistress of King George IV and wielded a great amount of power in the royal court. Upon the King’s death in 1830, he bequeathed all of his plate and jewellery to Elizabeth, but she refused it. Elizabeth was banned from court during the reigns of King William IV and Queen Victoria. Her husband, the 1st Marquess of Conyngham was made a member of the Privy Council and served as Lord Steward of the Household from 1821 until 1830. He was also appointed Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle in 1829, serving until his death three years later.

Lord Alfred Henry Paget by Southwell Brothers, albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s. source: National Portrait Gallery NPG x46527

On her maternal side, her mother’s half-brother was Lord Alfred Paget, who served as Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to Queen Victoria from July 1846 to March 1852, December 1852 to March 1858, and June 1859 to August 1874. At that time he retired as Chief Equerry but remained Clerk Marshal until he died in 1888.

Alfred’s daughter, Evelyn Cecilia Paget (Jane’s cousin), served as a Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria from 1874 until 1894. Another of Jane’s cousins, The Hon. Ethel Cadogan, also served as an Extra Maid of Honour from 1876-1880, Maid of Honour from 1880-1897, and Woman of the Bedchamber from 1897 until 1901.

Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey by Camille Silvy, albumen carte-de-visite, 23 July 1861. source: National Portrait Gallery, NPG Ax7420

Another of her mother’s brothers was Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge (later 2nd Marquess of Anglesey), who served as a Lord in Waiting to The Queen from 1837 to 1839, and then as Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 1839 to 1841 (succeeding Jane’s father).

Lady Adelaide Cadogan (née Paget) by Camille Silvy. albumen print, 22 June 1863. source: National Portrait Gallery, NP Ax63220

Her mother’s half-sister, Lady Adelaide Paget, served as one of the train bearers at Queen Victoria’s Coronation in 1838. One of her mother’s first cousins, Lady Matilda Paget, was a Maid of Honour to The Queen from 1837 until 1855.

Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, attributed to George Dawe, oil on canvas, c1817. source: National Portrait Gallery, NPG 1581

Her maternal grandfather, Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, served as Lord High Steward of England at the coronation of King George IV in 1821; Master-General of the Ordnance from 1827-1828 and 1846-1852; and twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from 18281-1829 and 1830-1833.

Francis George Spencer, 2nd Baron Churchill by Southwell Brothers albumen carte-de-visite, 1862-1863. source: National Portrait Gallery, NPG Ax7435

On May 19, 1849, Jane married Francis Spencer, 2nd Baron Churchill, at Bifrons Park in Patrixbourne, Kent. He was the son of Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill and Lady Frances FitzRoy. The couple had one son:

Jane was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber in 1854. She quickly became one of Queen Victoria’s most trusted confidantes. She was so trusted that in 1858, Queen Victoria asked Jane to accompany The Princess Royal to Berlin following her marriage to Prince Friedrich of Prussia (later Emperor Friedrich III), to help the Princess acclimate to her new home and also to provide Queen Victoria with detailed observations about life in the Prussian court. Lady Jane spent several weeks there before returning to Britain.

Jane’s influence with Queen Victoria became stronger following the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Queen Victoria no longer wanting to deal directly with many in her household, often used Jane to pass notes and requests to her staff and courtiers. Her devotion to the Queen was without question, and she was deemed by many as being the most influential and powerful people in Queen Victoria’s inner circle. While this occasionally ruffled feathers with some members of the household, most found her to be a very kind and caring person who put the needs and wishes of The Queen above all others.

Osborne House. photo: by WyrdLight.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12766661

Widowed in 1886, Jane remained at The Queen’s side for the rest of her life. On Christmas Eve 1900, The Dowager Baroness Churchill died in her sleep in her room at Osborne House, after over 45 years of service, companionship, and friendship to Queen Victoria. She was buried several days later in Finstock, Oxfordshire. The Queen was not told of her death immediately, as her doctors felt the news would be devastating to her already weakened health. Once told, she was heartbroken, and sent a wreath for Jane’s funeral with a handwritten note – “A mark of most loving affection and grateful remembrance from her devoted friend, Victoria, R.I.” Less than a month later, The Queen also passed away at Osborne House.

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

Jane Loftus, Marchioness of Ely, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Jane Loftus, Marchioness of Ely; painting by Charles-Lucien-Louis Muller, 1856. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 404891

Jane Loftus, Marchioness of Ely was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1851 until 1889. She then served as an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber until she died in 1890. 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 Jane Hope-Vere on December 3, 1821 to James Hope-Vere and Lady Elizabeth Hay, a daughter of the 7th Marquess of Tweeddale. Jane had seven siblings:

  • Hannah Hope-Vere – married Keith Stewart-Mackenzie, had issue
  • Sophia Hope-Vere – unmarried
  • Henrietta Hope-Vere – unmarried
  • Harriet Hope-Vere – married (1) Sir Edward Gooch, 6th Baronet, had issue; (2) Major John St. Leger, no issue
  • William Hope-Vere – married Lady Mary Boyle, had issue
  • Charles Hope-Vere – married Julia Craigie-Halkett, no issue
  • Georgina Hope-Vere – married (1855) Charles Wilson, had issue

Through her mother, Jane was a first cousin of Elizabeth (Hay) Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington, who served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1843-1858, and as Mistress of the Robes from 1861-1868, and again from 1874-1880.

Her maternal grandparents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Tweeddale had traveled to Europe in 1802 when the Marquess’s health began to decline. In France in 1803, when war began again between France and Britain, the couple were taken into custody with other British subjects and were imprisoned in the Fortress of Verdun. Both the Marchioness and the Marquess died there in May and August 1804, respectively.

On October 29, 1844, Jane married John Loftus, 3rd Marquess of Ely. He was the son of John Loftus, 2nd Marquess of Ely and Anna Maria Dashwood. They had two children:

  • Lady Marion Loftus (c1847) – married (1) George Springfield; (2) Sir James Bourne; (3) James Buchanan; (4) Rev. James Weller
  • John Loftus, 4th Marquess of Ely (1849) – married Caroline Caithness, no issue

While neither of her children served in the royal household, her niece, Adeline Loftus (daughter of her husband’s sister), was a Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria from 1889 until 1892.

The Marchioness of Ely with her son, c1860. photo by John & Charles Watkins. source: National Portrait Gallery NPG x134191

After her marriage, the family spent much of their time at Loftus Hall in County Wexford, Ireland, and traveled extensively throughout Europe. It was on these travels that Jane developed friendships with Queen Sophie of the Netherlands and the Empress Eugenie of France. Some years later, in 1856, she represented Queen Victoria at the christening of Eugenie’s son, Napoleon, Prince Imperial.

The Marchioness of Ely (right) with Queen Victoria (center), Prince Arthur, and the Hon. Flora MacDonald, on the terrace at Osborne House, August 1854. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2906148

In 1851, Jane was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and quickly became one of the Queen’s most trusted confidantes.  Despite her misgivings about her suitability for the role, Jane threw herself fully into her responsibilities, often at the expense of her health and well-being.  After being widowed in 1857, she became even more devoted to The Queen.  Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, she found herself one of the “gatekeepers” for Victoria, often stepping in to handle issues within the household that The Queen had previously handled in person.  While she often alienated some members of the royal household, others found her useful in getting issues or requests through to The Queen.

After Princess Louise married John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne in 1871, Jane became a more permanent resident of the royal household, living primarily with The Queen in her various residences, and spending less time at her own homes, or with her family.

The Dowager Marchioness of Ely, photographed c1885. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2912532

Following the death of her only son in April 1889, Jane resigned her position as Lady of the Bedchamber and was appointed an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber. The Dowager Marchioness of Ely died on June 1, 1890, at her home at 22 Wilton Place in Knightsbridge, London. She is buried beside her husband at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

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

Lord Guildford Dudley

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Credit – Wikipedia

Lord Guildford Dudley was the husband of Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for nine days, from July 10 – July 19, 1553. Born around 1535, Guildford was the youngest surviving son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and Jane Guildford.

Guildford had twelve siblings but only seven survived childhood:

Coat of Arms of the Dudley Family; Credit – By Sodacan – Own work; Based on [1], CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38506101

At the time of Guildford’s birth, his father John Dudley was a knight. In 1537, John Dudley became Vice Admiral and later Lord High Admiral and in 1542, he received the title of Viscount Lisle which once belonged to his wife’s family. At the beginning of the reign of the young King Edward VI, Guildford’s father was created Earl of Warwick. By 1550, he headed the Privy Council as Lord Protector and was the de facto ruler of England. John Dudley was created Duke of Northumberland in 1551. Guildford’s mother Jane had served as a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn and Anne of Cleves, King Henry VIII’s second and fourth wives.

In 1552, Guildford’s father tried to marry him to Margaret Clifford, the only surviving daughter of Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland and Lady Eleanor Brandon, the younger daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. King Edward VI was in favor of the marriage but Margaret’s father was against it because Guildford was the only a duke’s younger son.

The Streatham Portrait of Lady Jane Grey; Credit – Wikipedia

In the spring of 1553, Guildford became engaged to sixteen-year-old Lady Jane Grey who was closer to the English throne than Margaret Clifford. Jane was the eldest of the three daughters of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Lady Frances Brandon. Lady Frances was the daughter of King Henry VIII’s younger sister Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Frances was the elder of her parents’ two surviving children.

On May 25, 1553, three weddings were celebrated at Durham Place, the Duke of Northumberland’s London home. Lord Guildford Dudley married Lady Jane Grey, Guildford’s sister Lady Katherine Dudley married Henry Hastings, the Earl of Huntingdon’s heir, and Jane’s sister Lady Catherine Grey married Henry Herbert, the heir of the Earl of Pembroke.

In January 1553, King Edward VI became ill with a fever and cough that gradually worsened. It is probable that he had tuberculosis. By May 1553, the royal doctors had no hope that the king would recover and John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and Lord Protector, became to scheme for a succession that would benefit him.

As King Edward VI lay dying in the late spring and early summer of 1553, the succession to the throne according to the Third Succession Act looked like this, and note that number four in the succession was the Duke of Northumberland’s daughter-in-law.

1) Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
2) Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
3) Duchess of Suffolk (born Lady Frances Brandon), daughter of Mary Tudor
4) Lady Jane Grey, daughter of Frances Brandon
5) Lady Catherine Grey, daughter of Frances Brandon
6) Lady Mary Grey, daughter of Frances Brandon
7) Lady Margaret Clifford, daughter of Countess of Cumberland (born Lady Eleanor Brandon), daughter of Mary Tudor

King Edward VI’s death and the succession of his Catholic half-sister Mary would spell trouble for the English Reformation. Many on Edward’s Privy Council feared this, including the Duke of Northumberland. What exact role the Duke of Northumberland had in what followed is still debated, but surely he played a big part in the unfolding of the events. The king opposed Mary’s succession not only for religious reasons but also because of her illegitimacy and his belief in male succession. He also opposed the succession of his Protestant half-sister Elizabeth for reasons of illegitimacy and belief in male succession. Both Mary and Elizabeth were still considered to be legally illegitimate.

King Edward VI composed a document “My devise for the succession” in which he passed over his half-sisters and the Duchess of Suffolk (Frances Brandon). Edward meant for the throne to go to the Duchess’ daughters and their male heirs. The Duke and Duchess of Suffolk were outraged at the Duchess’ removal from the succession, but after a meeting with the ailing king, the Duchess renounced her rights in favor of her daughter Jane. Many contemporary legal experts believed the king could not contravene an Act of Parliament without passing a new one that would have established the altered succession. Therefore, many thought that Jane’s claim to the throne was weak. Apparently, Jane did not have any idea of what was occurring.

Lady Jane Grey Prevailed on to Accept the Crown by Charles Robert Leslie, 1827. The painting depicts Lady Jane Grey with her husband Lord Guildford Dudley; Credit – Wikipedia

After great suffering, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI died on July 6, 1553, most likely from tuberculosis. On July 9, Jane was told that she was Queen, and reluctantly accepted the fact. She was publicly proclaimed Queen with much pomp after Edward’s death was announced on July 10. Queen Jane made a state entry into the Tower of London. Her mother carried her train and the rather short Queen wore raised shoes to give her height. Jane showed some spirit when she refused to allow her husband Guildford to be proclaimed king.

The Duke of Northumberland had to find Mary and hopefully capture her before she could gather support. However, as soon as Mary knew her half-brother was dead, she wrote a letter to the Privy Council with orders for her proclamation as Edward’s successor and started to gather support. By July 12, Mary and her supporters had assembled a military force at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. The Duke of Northumberland set out from London with troops on July 14. The nobility was incensed with Northumberland and the people, for the most part, wanted Mary as their Queen, not Jane. In Northumberland’s absence, the Privy Council switched their allegiance from Jane to Mary and proclaimed her Queen on July 19, 1553. Mary arrived triumphantly in London on August 3, 1553, accompanied by her half-sister Elizabeth and a procession of over 800 nobles and gentlemen.

Jane and Guildford had been in residence at the Tower of London following Jane’s proclamation as Queen. They were separated and remained at the Tower. After a few days, Guildford’s father John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland and Guildford’s four surviving brothers were imprisoned at the Tower of London along with Jane’s father Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk. All the men were eventually attainted and condemned to death. The Duke of Northumberland was executed on August 22, 1553.

Queen Mary appeared as if she was going to be lenient but the Protestant rebellion of Thomas Wyatt the Younger in January 1554 sealed Jane’s fate, although she had nothing to do with the rebellion. Wyatt’s Rebellion was a reaction to Queen Mary’s planned marriage to the future King Philip II of Spain. Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley were executed on February 12, 1534. Jane’s father, the Duke of Suffolk, was executed on February 23, 1554.

The day before their execution, Guildford asked for a last meeting with his wife but Jane refused saying that it “would only … increase their misery and pain, it was better to put it off … as they would meet shortly elsewhere, and live bound by indissoluble ties.” About ten o’clock in the morning of February 12, 1554, Guildford was led to Tower Hill and gave a brief speech to the assembled crowd, as was customary. He knelt down, prayed, and asked the people to pray for him. Guildford was killed with a single blow of the ax and his body was then taken to the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. Jane was beheaded within the precincts of the Tower of London within an hour and was buried next to her husband in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula within the Tower of London.

Memorial in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London; Credit – www.findagrave.com

Guildford’s brothers John, Ambrose, Henry, and Robert Dudley remained imprisoned at the Tower of London in the Beauchamp Tower where they made carvings in the walls. John carved their heraldic devices with his name “IOHN DVDLI” which can still be seen. During 1554, Guildford’s mother Jane Dudley and his brother-in-law Sir Henry Sidney were busy befriending the Spanish nobles around Queen Mary’s new husband, Prince Philip of Spain, hoping they would use their influence to have the Dudley brothers released. In October 1554, John, Ambrose, Henry, and Robert Dudley were released due to their efforts.

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.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dudley,_1st_Duke_of_Northumberland [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Lord Guildford Dudley. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Guildford_Dudley [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].
  • Flantzer, S. (2016). King Edward VI of England. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-edward-vi-of-england/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].
  • Flantzer, S. (2013). Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/july-10-daily-featured-royal-date/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].
  • Williamson, David. Brewer’s British Royalty. London: Cassell, 1996. Print.

Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning; Credit – Wikipedia

Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1842 until 1855. 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.

Charlotte was born The Honorable Charlotte Stuart on March 31, 1817 at the British Embassy in Paris, where her father, Sir Charles Stuart (later 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay) was serving as the Ambassador to France. Her mother was Lady Elizabeth Margaret Yorke, a daughter of the 3rd Earl of Hardwicke. Charlotte was named for Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom, who was one of her godparents. She had one younger sister:

Charlotte was raised primarily in France, where her father served as Ambassador to France from 1815-1824 and again from 1828-1830. (He would later serve as Ambassador to Russia from 1841-1844.) The family returned to London in 1831, taking up residence in a newly built home in Carlton House Terrace, along The Mall.

Charles Canning, circa 1840. source: Wikipedia

Soon after making her debut into society in 1834, Charlotte met The Honorable Charles Canning, son of the late former Prime Minister George Canning and Joan Scott (Viscountess Canning in her own right). When Charles proposed, Charlotte’s father, at first, refused the proposal due to his political differences with the late Prime Minister. He soon relented after pressure from Charlotte and the rest of the family. Charlotte and Charles were married on September 5, 1835, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. They had no children.

The Viscountess Canning (standing) and The Hon. Mary Bulteel, Balmoral, October 1853. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2906502

In 1837, her mother-in-law died, and Charlotte’s husband succeeded her as the 2nd Viscount Canning. Several years later, on May 30, 1842, the new Viscountess was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria. She quickly accepted and relished her position at court. While many other ladies worried that the position would keep them from their children and families, this was not the case for Charlotte. Having no children, she was free to enjoy her position and took great pride in serving the Sovereign.

Old Balmoral Castle from the east, dated September 1848. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 919459

The Viscountess accompanied Queen Victoria on many of her travels during her years in waiting, including The Queen’s first visit to Balmoral in September 1848. While there, Charlotte, who shared a love of painting with Queen Victoria, painted the watercolor seen above. It shows the old Balmoral Castle Victoria and Albert leased in 1848 and later purchased in 1852. The old castle was taken down in 1856, after the construction of the new, larger Balmoral Castle. Over the years, Charlotte painted many scenes of Balmoral and the surrounding Highlands, as well as the Queen’s other residences and other places she visited. One of Queen Victoria’s favorite paintings was a watercolor of Schloss Rosenau in Coburg, the birthplace of The Prince Consort, which Charlotte painted while accompanying Victoria and Albert there on a visit in 1845.

Government House, Calcutta. photo: By Rangan Datta Wiki – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18107717

After thirteen years, Charlotte stepped down from serving Queen Victoria when her husband was appointed Governor-General of India. Charlotte and her husband moved to India in 1856, taking up residence at Government House in Calcutta. She soon found that she did not enjoy it there, and preferred to spend her time at Government House in nearby Barrackpore, which the Governors-General used as a summer residence. Three years later, following the India Mutiny, her husband was created the first Viceroy of India. At the same time, he was created 1st Earl Canning, with Charlotte becoming Vicereine and Countess Canning.

Unlike her role as Lady of the Bedchamber, Charlotte found little pleasure in her role as the wife of the Governor-General, and later Vicereine. She found herself very isolated, with few friends and social activities. However, at Barrackpore, she found some comfort and enjoyment, relishing in the lush surroundings. There, she pursued her interests in botany and art, creating a large collection of her own paintings of the flora and landscape. Today, her artwork is in numerous museums and collections, including 19 volumes of her drawings – “Drawings of English and Indian Flowers By Lady Canning” – held at Harewood House in England, and two portfolios of her work at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Charlotte Canning (née Stuart) Countess Canning, by Henry Hering, c1860. source: National Portrait Gallery NPG x45082

After serving in India for five years, the Earl and Countess of Canning made plans to return to Britain in January 1862. With Charlotte’s impending return, Queen Victoria appointed her Ranger of Greenwich Park and was looking forward to seeing her dear friend once again. However, it was not to happen. Having left Barrackpore, Charlotte made a trip to see Darjeeling one last time before returning to Calcutta to prepare for her trip home. Sadly, having contracted malaria during her trip, Charlotte died at Government House in Calcutta on November 18, 1861. She is buried in a small garden on the grounds of Government House in Barrackpore. An elaborate memorial was also constructed in the graveyard of St. John’s Church in Calcutta.

Memorial to Lady Canning, St. John’s Church, Calcutta. photo: By Pdr123 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17414599

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 Books
Charlotte Canning: Lady in Waiting to Queen Victoria and Wife of the First Viceroy of India, 1817-1861 by Virginia Surtees
Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard

Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou; Credit – Wikipedia

Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou was the second husband of Empress Matilda, Lady of the English, daughter of King Henry I of England, and the ancestor of the Plantagenet kings of England. Born on August 24, 1113, Geoffrey was the eldest of the four children and the elder of the two sons of Fulk V, Count of Anjou and his first wife Ermengarde, Countess of Maine in her own right.

Geoffrey had three younger siblings:

Geoffrey had two half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem:

In 1126, King Henry I of England arranged for his only surviving child Matilda to marry Geoffrey of Anjou. Henry I needed male heirs from his daughter. In 1120, William Ætheling, King Henry I’s only legitimate son and many others had drowned in the White Ship disaster when his ship, returning to England from Normandy, hit a submerged rock, capsized, and sank. Henry I’s nephews were then his closest male heirs. On Christmas Day 1126, Henry I gathered his nobles at Westminster where they swore to recognize Matilda and any future legitimate heir she might have as his successors.

Matilda was quite unhappy about her marriage to Geoffrey. This would be her second marriage. When she was just twelve years old, Matilda married 28-year-old Heinrich V, Holy Roman Emperor. Matilda returned to England when she was widowed eleven years later. She was eleven years older than Geoffrey and marriage to a mere future Count would diminish her status as the widow of an Emperor. Nevertheless, the couple was married at the Cathedral of St. Julian in Le Mans, County of Maine, now in France, on June 17, 1128.

Empress Matilda; Credit – Wikipedia

The couple did not get along and their marriage was stormy with frequent, long separations. Matilda insisted on retaining her title of Empress for the rest of her life. Three years after Geoffrey’s mother died in 1126, his father Fulk abdicated his lands to Geoffrey and set out for the Holy Land, where he married Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem, and became King of Jerusalem. Geoffrey had become Count of Maine upon his mother’s death and now he was also Count of Anjou.

Geoffrey and Matilda had three sons:

Geoffrey also recognized three children by an unknown mistress/mistresses:

On December 1, 1135, King Henry I of England died. His nephew Stephen of Blois quickly crossed from France to England, seized power in England, and was crowned King of England three weeks later. Empress Matilda did not give up her claim to England and Normandy, leading to the long civil war known as The Anarchy between 1135 and 1153.

During The Anarchy, Geoffrey concentrated on conquering the Duchy of Normandy in northwest France. After an unsuccessful attempt in 1135, Geoffrey began a systematic conquest of Normandy in 1136. By 1143, Geoffrey secured all of Normandy west and south of the Seine and assumed the title of Duke of Normandy in the summer of 1144. Geoffrey held the duchy until 1149 when he and Matilda ceded it to their son Henry.

Geoffrey died suddenly on September 7, 1151, aged 38, at Château-du-Loir, in the Duchy of Brittany, now in France. He was buried at the Cathedral of St. Julian in Le Mans, then in the County of Maine, now in France. Empress Matilda commissioned an enamel funerary plaque to decorate Geoffrey’s tomb. It is one of the earliest examples of European heraldry and can be seen at the beginning of this article. The decorated shield suggests the early origins of the three lions of the Royal Arms of England. The enamel plaque, originally at the Cathedral of St. Julian, is now in the Museum of Archeology and History in Le Mans.

Cathedral of St. Julian in Le Mans, France; Credit – Wikipedia

The House of Plantagenet was founded by Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou via his marriage to Empress Matilda. The English crown passed to their son, the future King Henry II of England, under the Treaty of Winchester, ending nineteen years of a civil war called The Anarchy fought between Matilda and her cousin King Stephen over the possession of the English crown. Generally, Henry II and his sons are called the Angevins, from Geoffrey’s noble family which originated in Anjou, France.

Common Broom or Planta Genista; Credit – Wikipedia

Although there is little evidence for the Plantagenet name before the mid-fifteenth century, Plantagenet is the name given to the fourteen English kings who reigned from 1154-1485. The name derives from the common broom plant, known then in Latin as “planta genista.” It is claimed that Geoffrey V of Anjou wore a sprig of the plant in his hat. Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, father of Edward IV and Richard III and Yorkist claimant to the throne, starting using the name around 1448.

Sharon Kay Penman‘s excellent historical fiction novel When Christ and His Saints Slept deals with The Anarchy and most of the historical figures mentioned here are characters.

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.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Plantagenet,_Count_of_Anjou [Accessed 27 Nov. 2018].
  • Flantzer, S. (2017). Empress Matilda, Lady of the English. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/empress-matilda-lady-of-the-english/ [Accessed 27 Nov. 2018].
  • Fr.wikipedia.org. (2018). Geoffroy V d’Anjou. [online] Available at: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffroy_V_d%27Anjou [Accessed 27 Nov. 2018].
  • Williamson, David. Brewer’s British Royalty. London: Cassell, 1996. Print.

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

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

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

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. Her brother Henry married 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 the Lascelles family. Despite their ten-year age difference, the two began a friendship that lasted 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 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 that Lady Flora was suffering from cancer, Emma and the others saw their reputations tarnished greatly. However, they weathered the storm, and Emma remained a close confidante to Queen Victoria. 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. Queen Victoria 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

Sarah Lyttelton, Baroness Lyttelton, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and Governess to the Royal Children

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Sarah Lyttelton, Baroness Lyttelton; Credit – Wikipedia

Sarah Lyttelton, Baroness Lyttelton served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1837 until 1842 and then became Governess to the Royal Children, serving until 1850. 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 Lady Sarah Spencer, on July 29, 1787, at Althorp, the seat of the Earls Spencer in Northamptonshire, England, she was the eldest daughter and second child of George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer and Lady Lavinia Bingham (daughter of the 1st Earl of Lucan). Sarah was raised at Althorp and Spencer House in London, along with her eight siblings:

Two of Sarah’s brothers also served in Royal Households. Her brother Robert served as Private Secretary and Groom of the Bedchamber to the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) from 1827 to 1828. Her brother Frederick, the 4th Earl Spencer, served as an Equerry to Queen Victoria’s mother, The Duchess of Kent, from 1840 to 1845, and then Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household from 1846 to 1848 and Lord Steward of the Royal Household from 1854 to 1857.

William Henry Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton. source: Wikipedia

On March 4, 1813, Sarah married Sir William Henry Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton. He was the son of William Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton and Caroline Bristow. Sarah and William had five children:

  • The Hon. Caroline Lyttelton (1816) – unmarried
  • George, 4th Baron Lyttelton (1817) – married (1) Mary Glynne, had issue: (2) Sybella Clive, had issue
  • The Hon. Spencer Lyttelton (1818) – married Henrietta Cornewall, had issue
  • The Hon. William Lyttelton (1820) – married (1)Emily Pepys, no issue; (2) Constance York, no issue
  • The Hon. Lavinia Lyttelton (1821) – married Rev. Henry Glynne, had issue

Continuing the tradition of royal service, one of Sarah’s granddaughters, Lady Lucy Lyttelton (daughter of Sarah’s son George, 4th Baron Lyttelton) served as a Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria from 1863 until 1864, when she married Lord Frederick Cavendish.

After 34 years of marriage, Sarah was widowed in April 1837. Just four months later, she was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria. However, due to her husband’s death and an appropriate period of mourning, she first took up her duties in October 1838. Although uncertain of her suitability, Sarah soon adjusted to her role and thoroughly enjoyed her time at court. From her letters, she appears to have gotten along well with others in the household, and soon became a favorite of both The Queen and The Prince Consort. It is due to this closeness that she soon found herself in a new position within the Royal Household.

Having struggled to find appropriate people to raise their children, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert asked Sarah to take on the role of Governess to the Royal Children in April 1842. Somewhat reluctantly, she agreed on the condition that she be given the necessary authority to oversee the nursery and her charges. As Governess, she oversaw the nursery staff, as well as the schedules of the children, and the early stages of their education. At the time, there were just two children – The Princess Royal and The Prince of Wales – who quickly became attached to their new governess. She was nicknamed “Laddle” by the young Princess – a name by which the children affectionately called her well into their adult years. Over the next eight years, the nurseries grew to include the first seven of The Queen’s children.

In October 1850, Sarah’s daughter Lavinia died in childbirth, leaving several young children. In December of that year, Lady Lyttelton requested The Queen’s permission to retire, so that she could return to Hagley Hall and help care for her grandchildren. The Queen approved, quite reluctantly, and gave Sarah a very generous pension of £800 per year for the rest of her life.

In January 1851, Sarah returned to her family at Hagley and settled into life as a grandmother. She kept in contact with the Royal Family and occasionally met them at social functions. In January 1858, she was a guest at the wedding of The Princess Royal and Prince Friedrich of Prussia (the future German Emperor Friedrich III). Ten years later, she hosted a visit from the couple at her home in London.

At the age of 82, The Dowager Baroness died at Hagley Hall on April 13, 1870. She is buried in the Lyttelton family plot in the cemetery at St. John the Baptist Church in Hagley.

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 Books:
Correspondence of Sarah Spencer, Lady Lyttelton 1787-1870 edited by her great-granddaughter, The Hon. Mrs. Hugh Wyndham
Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard

Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford; Credit – Wikipedia

Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford was Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1837 until 1841. 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 Anna Maria Stanhope, on September 3, 1783, she was the eldest daughter of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington and Jane Fleming. Anna had ten siblings:

Anna’s mother had served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte from 1794 until 1818, and her father served as Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle from 1812 until 1829.

Francis Russell, Duke of Bedford; Credit – Wikipedia

On August 8, 1808, at Harrington House in London, Anna married Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (later 7th Duke of Bedford). He was the son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford and the Hon. Georgiana Byng. The couple had one son:

Anna was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber in 1837, one of the first eight women appointed to the position by Queen Victoria. At the time, she was the Marchioness of Tavistock but became Duchess of Bedford upon her husband’s accession to the dukedom in 1839. That same year, Anna played a prominent role in the Flora Hastings scandal. Along with Baroness Lehzen, Anna helped to spread the rumor that Flora was pregnant, and named Sir John Conroy as the father. It was Anna who informed Lord Melbourne of the situation and potential scandal. When the truth became known that Flora was not pregnant, Anna’s reputation, along with those of Baroness Lehzen and Queen Victoria, suffered greatly through several public attacks in the media. But her loyalty to and from Queen Victoria remained strong. In 1840, she represented Queen Victoria, serving as chief mourner at the funeral of Princess Augusta, a daughter of King George III. She ended her service in the Royal Household in 1841.

Belvoir Castle. photo: By Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK – Belvoir CastleUploaded by Alaniaris, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18154009

Several years later, while visiting the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle, Anna reportedly began the tradition now known as “Afternoon Tea”. Feeling a bit peckish in the mid-afternoon, she began having tea with cakes or sandwiches and then began inviting friends to join her. Much enjoyed, afternoon tea soon became a staple of the British afternoon.

The Duchess of Bedford died in Belgrave Square, London on July 3, 1857, and is buried in the Bedford Chapel at St. Michael’s Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire.

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

Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim – source: Wikipedia

Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim, was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1890 until 1901, and briefly served as Acting Mistress of the Robes in 1894. 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 Louisa Jane Grey at St. James’s Palace in London, England on February 15, 1855, she was the daughter of The Honorable Charles Grey and Caroline Farquhar. Louisa had five siblings:

Louisa’s early life was spent very close to the royal circles, as her father served as Private Secretary to Prince Albert from 1849 until the Prince died in 1861, and then as Private Secretary to Queen Victoria until his own death in 1870. The family had apartments at St. James’s Palace in London and lived in the Norman Tower at Windsor Castle and Osborne Cottage on the grounds of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, where Louisa grew up as a playmate to several of Queen Victoria’s children. Following her father’s death, her mother became an Extra Woman of the Bedchamber to The Queen and was permitted to retain the family’s apartments at St. James’s Palace. She served until her death in 1890.

Royal and government service was very common in the Grey family. Her grandfather, the 2nd Earl Grey, served as Prime Minister from 1830-1834. Her sister Mary’s husband, the 4th Earl of Minto, served as Governor-General of Canada from 1898-1904, and then Viceroy of India from 1905-1910. Her brother, the 4th Earl Grey, served as Governor-General of Canada from 1904-1911.

Louisa’s cousin, Mary Bulteel, photographed at Osborne House, 1854. photo: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2906545

Her father’s sister Lady Caroline Barrington served as a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1837-1875 and as Lady Superintendent (governess) to The Queen’s daughters. Her cousin Mary Bulteel served as a Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria from 1853-1861, before marrying Sir Henry Ponsonby, who succeeded Louisa’s father as Private Secretary to Queen Victoria in 1870, serving until 1895, and also served as Keeper of the Privy Purse from 1870-1895. Another cousin, Alice, Countess of Morton, later served as an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra, from 1901-1907.

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In the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace on June 1, 1875, Louisa married William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim. He was the son of Captain Mark McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim and Jane Macan. They had met at a house party in Scotland just months earlier and were quickly engaged. Louisa and William had three children:

  • Lady Sybil McDonnell (1876-1959) – married Vivian Smith, 1st Baron Bicester, had issue
  • Randal McDonnell, 7th Earl of Antrim (1878-1931) – married Margaret Talbot, had issue
  • Angus McDonnell (1881-1966) – married Ethelwyn Jones, no issue

In September 1890, Louisa received a letter from The Duchess of Buccleuch asking her to consider becoming a Lady of the Bedchamber. After initially declining, she accepted the offer days later and received her formal invitation from Queen Victoria in early October. Due to her mother’s death the following month and an appropriate mourning period, Louisa began her service in March 1891. Having grown up in royal circles, Louisa quickly settled into her position. So impressed was The Queen that she assigned Louisa to be the lady-in-waiting for the Empress of Germany during a State Visit from the Emperor and Empress in July 1891.

Queen Victoria and descendants, April 1894, in Coburg. photo: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2905204

Louisa briefly served as Acting Mistress of the Robes, when she accompanied Queen Victoria to Coburg in April 1894 for the wedding of the Queen’s grandchildren Ernst Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The position of Mistress of the Robes had been vacant for several years, as no one would accept the position due to Prime Minister Gladstone’s policy of Home Rule in Ireland. The Dowager Duchess of Atholl and the Duchess of Roxburghe fulfilled the duties during this time, but it was Louisa who was chosen for the trip to Coburg.

Louisa was often chosen to accompany The Queen on her annual holiday in the south of France and joined her on her last foreign trip to Ireland in 1900. Louisa last saw Queen Victoria in December 1900, taking her final drive with the Queen on December 6th. Later that month, she sailed to Canada to visit her sister and brother-in-law the Earl and Countess of Minto. While in Canada they received news that Queen Victoria had died. Louisa was unable to return to the United Kingdom for the funeral but attended a memorial service at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa.

The Countess of Antrim (right) with The Hon. Charlotte Knollys, Lady of the Bedchamber and Private Secretary to Queen Alexandra, with young Prince Olav (later King Olav V of Norway). photo taken by Queen Alexandra on a Mediterranean Cruise in 1905. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2924062

Upon returning home, Louisa received a letter from the new Queen Alexandra, asking her to stay on as a Lady of the Bedchamber. She served Queen Alexandra until the death of King Edward VII in 1910. During this time, she accompanied Queen Alexandra on several foreign trips, and during a State Visit from the King of Portugal in 1904, Louisa struck up a friendship with Queen Amelie of Portugal which would last the rest of her life.

Having grown up in royal circles, Louisa also maintained close friendships with several royal family members. Her correspondence shows a close relationship with Princess Beatrice, and in later years she became good friends with Princess Helena Victoria (daughter of Princess Helena) and Princess Victoria (daughter of King Edward VII).

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After retiring from royal service, Louisa kept in touch with many of her royal friends and occasionally went on holiday with Princess Victoria. She was widowed in 1918, and in later years moved next door to her sister, Lady Minto, in Chelsea Park Gardens. The Dowager Countess of Antrim died on April 2, 1949 at the age of 94. She is buried in the Antrim family graveyard at Glenarm Castle in Glenarm, Northern Ireland.

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 Books

  • Louisa, Lady in Waiting: The personal diaries and albums of Louisa, Lady in Waiting to Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra compiled and edited by Elizabeth Longwood
  • Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard