Monthly Archives: November 2018

Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Embed from Getty Images

Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford, served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1880 until 1883. 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 Elizabeth Sackville-West, she was the daughter of George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr and Lady Elizabeth Sackville, on September 23, 1818. Elizabeth had nine siblings:

Elizabeth’s father served as Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household from 1841 to 1846, and again from 1858 to 1859. Her brother Reginald served as Chaplain to Queen Victoria from 1846 to 1865.

Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford (left). source: Wikipedia

In 1840, Elizabeth was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Four years later, on June 18, 1844, Elizabeth married Francis Russell, later the 9th Duke of Bedford. He was the son of Lord George William Russell and Elizabeth Rawdon. The couple had four children:

Woburn Abbey. photo: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=716546

Elizabeth became Duchess of Bedford in 1872 when her husband succeeded to the dukedom.  The couple inherited Woburn Abbey, in Bedfordshire (the country home of the Dukes of Bedford), and the Bedford Estate in London.  In 1880, Elizabeth was appointed Mistress of the Robes by Prime Minister William Gladstone and served until 1883. When Gladstone returned to power for several months in 1886, no ladies would accept the appointment due to his policy of Home Rule in Ireland. During his brief government service, Elizabeth served as Acting Mistress of the Robes, although she was not formally appointed.

Norris Castle. photo: By Mark Pilbeam, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6105884

The same year Elizabeth became Mistress of the Robes, her husband purchased Norris Castle, the neighboring estate to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.  This allowed them to be close by when The Queen was in residence at Osborne.  Queen Victoria had stayed at Norris Castle twice, in her childhood, during vacations there with her mother.  She later purchased the house and property next door and rebuilt it to become the Osborne House that exists today.

Having survived her husband by six years, The Dowager Duchess of Bedford died at Latimer House near Chesham, Buckinghamshire, on April 22, 1897. She was cremated and her ashes were interred in the Bedford Chapel at St. Michael’s Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire.

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

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.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I  

Front Page of The New York Times on November 11, 1918; Credit – Wikipedia

By the time World War I ended 100 years ago today, the Russian, German, Austrian, and Ottoman Empires had crumbled, the royal landscape of Europe had changed forever, and about 10 million military personnel and about 7 million civilians had died.  In memory of all who fought and all who died, we publish the link to our Royalty and World War I Index so you can read and remember.
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Unofficial Royalty: Royalty and World War I

Resources: Robert the Bruce, King of Scots

Statue of Robert the Bruce at Stirling Castle; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

With the release of the film Outlaw King about Robert the Bruce (1274-1329), a Scottish national hero and King of Scots during the First War of Scottish Independence, we thought it would be a good idea to share some of our resources related to him.

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To learn more about the monarchs of Scotland, check out Unofficial Royalty: Scottish Index

Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland; Credit – Wikipedia

Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1870 until 1874. 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 Anne Hay-Mackenzie on April 21, 1829, she was the only child of John Hay-Mackenzie of Newhall and Cromarty and Anne Gibson-Craig. Through her father, Anne was the great-great-granddaughter of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie, who had participated in the Jacobite rising of 1745, the attempt of Charles Edward Stuart, The Young Pretender, to take the British throne for the House of Stuart. He was captured, tried, and sentenced to death, but managed to get a pardon. In exchange for his life, George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie was stripped of his titles, and all his estates were confiscated. His eldest son was able to get the family’s estates restored in 1784, but not the titles.

George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland. source: Wikipedia

On June 27, 1849, Anne married George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Marquess of Stafford (later 3rd Duke of Sutherland), the son of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland and Lady Harriet Howard.

Anne and George had five children:

Anne became Duchess of Sutherland on February 22, 1861, upon her husband’s accession to the dukedom. Later that year, she also received titles of her own. On October 21, 1861, Anne was created Countess of Cromartie, Viscountess Tarbat, Baroness Castlehaven, and Baroness MacLeod in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. These were all titles previously held by her ancestors, and were granted with special remainder to her younger son, Francis.  She also inherited Castle Leod in the Scottish Highlands, the seat of the Earls of Cromartie, since the 17th century.

Castle Leod in the Scottish Highlands. photo: By Craig Wallace, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36322284

In 1870, Anne succeeded her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, as Mistress of the Robes and served until 1874. Her mother-in-law, Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, held the same position four times between 1837 and 1861.

The Duchess of Sutherland died on November 25, 1888, at Stafford House in London. She is buried at Babbacombe Cemetery in Torquay, Devon, England.

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.

Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll; Credit – Wikipedia

Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1868 to 1870. 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 Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland-Leveson-Gower on May 30, 1824, she was the eldest child of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland and Lady Harriet Howard, who served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria four different times between 1837 and 1861.

Elizabeth had ten siblings:

George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll. source: Wikipedia

Elizabeth married George Douglas Campbell, Marquess of Lorne (later 8th Duke of Argyll) at Trentham Hall on July 31, 1844, in a ceremony officiated by the Archbishop of York. He was the son of John Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll and Joan Glassel. The couple had met at Taymouth Castle in 1842 when Elizabeth accompanied Queen Victoria on her first visit to Scotland. Elizabeth and George quickly began their family and had 12 children:

The couple took up residence at Rosneath House, given to them by Elizabeth’s husband’s father, and enjoyed a very close and happy marriage. Both had strong interests in liberal policies and shared many of the same interests. Three years after their marriage, Elizabeth’s husband became Duke of Argyll and Chief of Clan Campbell upon his father’s death. He also became Master of the Household in Scotland, a hereditary office held by the Earls and Dukes of Argyll since the reign of King James IV of Scotland. Upon his accession, he also inherited Inveraray Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Argyll in Scotland, and Argyll Lodge in London.

Inveraray Castle. photo: By DeFacto – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43283799

Like her mother, Elizabeth was an ardent supporter of the abolitionist movement and helped draft a letter to the women of the United States calling for an end to slavery. After the letter was sent to Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the two began a correspondence and friendship that lasted for many years. She and her husband also developed a friendship with Charles Sumner, an American politician and leader in the anti-slavery movement.

Elizabeth was appointed Mistress of the Robes in December 1868. She served for a year before resigning in January 1870 due to ill health. She had suffered a mild stroke earlier in 1868 and never fully recovered. Her sister-in-law, Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland succeeded her as Mistress of the Robes. The following year, her eldest son John married Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise.

The tombs of Elizabeth and her husband in the Argyll Mausoleum. photo © Historic Kilmun, used with permission.

Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, died in London on May 25, 1878, while dining with the former Prime Minister Gladstone. She was just 53 years old. She is buried beside her husband in the Argyll Mausoleum at the Kilmun Parish Church in Kilmun, Scotland.

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

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.

Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington; Credit – Wikipedia

Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1843 until 1858, and then Mistress of the Robes from 1861 to 1868, and 1874 to 1880. 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.

Lady Elizabeth Hay was born at Yester House, in East Lothian, Scotland on September 27, 1820, the daughter of George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale and Lady Susan Montagu (a daughter of the 5th Duke of Manchester). She had 13 siblings:

Her sister Susan, Marchioness of Dalhousie also served briefly as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria in 1842. Her brother William, 10th Marquess of Tweeddale, was appointed by Queen Victoria as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1889 to 1892 and again from 1896 to 1897.

Embed from Getty Images 

On April 18, 1839, Elizabeth married Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Douro (later 2nd Duke of Wellington). He was the son of the famed Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and The Honorable Catherine Pakenham. Their families arranged the marriage which was never particularly happy, and they had no children. Elizabeth did have a very close relationship with her father-in-law.

Elizabeth became Duchess of Wellington upon her husband’s accession to the title in 1852. At that time, they inherited Stratfield Saye House in Hampshire, the family seat of the Dukes of Wellington, and Apsley House, the family home in London.

Following the retirement of Harriet Sutherland in April 1861, Elizabeth was appointed Mistress of the Robes. She held the position until 1868, serving in governments led by four different Prime Ministers – Viscount Palmerston (1861-1865), Earl Russell (1865-1866), Earl of Derby (1866-1868), and Benjamin Disraeli (1868). When Disraeli returned to power in 1874, Elizabeth was once again appointed Mistress of the Robes, serving until 1880.

Stratfield Saye House. photo: By Andrew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14172142

The Dowager Duchess of Wellington died in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on August 13, 1904 – exactly twenty years to the day after her husband. She is buried alongside him at Stratfield Saye House.

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

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.

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

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.