Published in Windlesora 17 (1999)
© WLHG
Maria, Countess Waldegrave (1735-1807)
There is something universally appealing about a beautiful woman who starting life under a disadvantage, reaches an unlooked-for height of social success. Maria began life as the illegitimate daughter of a milliner and ended it buried in the Gloucester vault of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, as the Duchess of Gloucester, wife of William, Duke of Gloucester, who was the favourite brother of King George III.
Her story begins with the circumstances of her mother Dorothy Clement, who was seen by the wife of Archbishop Secker in 1730 “sitting like a Queen on a throne” atop a rag and bone cart. Mrs Secker thought that Dorothy was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen and requested a closer look at her. Dorothy at that time was working at the shop of a second-hand clothes dealer in Pall Mall. Above the shop lived young Edward Walpole, son of Prime Minister Robert Walpole. At the time of their meeting, Edward was 28 years old and had a comfortable living from several posts secured for him by his father. He became devoted to the lovely Dorothy Clement, but his father opposed any marriage between them. Dorothy bore him five children but died shortly after the death of the youngest child.
Edward never married, and the children were accepted by the family as Walpoles. The three girls, Laura (born 1734), Maria (1735) and Horatia (1738) were exceptionally beautiful and were referred to in society as the “Three Graces”.
Their uncle, Horace Walpole, the social diarist of his day was delighted to show off his handsome nieces and with his own social success established, was able to steer them towards good matrimonial prospects.
Laura was introduced to the Canons at St George’s Chapel and there met Canon Frederick Keppel (5th Son of Lord Albemarle) and married him in 1758. Her marriage paved the way for her sisters and they were taken up by Lady Albemarle and Lady Rich who introduced them to fashionable society although the circumstances of their birth prevented them from being presented at Court.
Horace now decided to play matchmaker for Maria whose dazzling beauty and ambition were an irresistible combination. James, second Earl Waldegrave, was a confirmed bachelor of 44 when he was introduced by Horace to his niece. The Earl promptly succumbed to her charms and they were married quietly in 1760 at her father’s home in Pall Mall. After the wedding they left for the family home at Navestock in Essex.
Maria gave birth to a daughter in 1760 followed by another in 1761 and a third in 1762, but in 1763 James contracted smallpox and died leaving the young widowed mother with very little money. Most of his money came from lucrative Government appointments with ceased at his death. He left his daughters £8,100 each but there were suggestions that their fortune was mismanaged and it dwindled considerably.
Maria’s health suffered, and grief ravaged the bloom of her appeal. Much of her early widowhood was spent at Windsor, where it was reported that adoring Eton boys were “most assiduous in their attendance at St George’s Chapel in order to see Lady Waldegrave at ‘Castle Prayers’”.
The Duke of Gloucester was only 19 when he fell in love with Maria, who was even more alluring in her tragic vulnerability. Her circle were amazed that she allowed the young prince to court her, since she was eight years his senior and he would never be allowed to marry her. Both her father and her uncle were convinced she would never consent to be his mistress and could not understand why she had rejected the attentions of the Duke of Portland who was both rich and eligible. The Duke of Gloucester redoubled his attentions, and Maria threw aside all pretence of caution.
A secret wedding between Maria and Gloucester seems to have taken place in September 1766 at Maria’s home, St Leonard’s Hill, Windsor. The Duke decided not to have witnesses at the wedding in order to keep it secret from the King. This decision, plus the fact that the chaplain who carried out the ceremony died prematurely, was to cause great difficulty when they wished to have the wedding recognised by Parliament. Many historians regard the marriage of the Duke of Gloucester to Maria Waldegrave as the main cause of the passing of the Royal Marriage Act.*
In September 1772, the Duke wrote to his brother, George III, informing him that he had been married in September 1766 and that it would never have been made public but for a variety of accidents. The news was not welcome to George III, and he declined to meet his brother. On 29th May 1773, a fortnight before the legality of the marriage had been established, the Duchess of Gloucester gave birth to a daughter, Princess Sophia.
The position of friends and relatives was now complicated. The Gloucesters were not accepted at Court; therefore friends had to choose between a social life which included Court society or being ostracised with Maria. Such a dilemma placed the socialite, Horace Walpole, in an uncomfortable position. He distanced himself from his beloved niece, as did most of their friends, and Maria suffered many insults and snubs.
They were living at Maria’s house, St. Leonard’s Hill, which had been renamed Gloucester Lodge once her marriage had been recognised. She had commissioned Thomas Sandby to build on a lavish extension, and inevitably, they got into debt. The Duke offered to sell the house to the King; however, George declined it, but he did give them permission to live abroad, where life would be cheaper and they would be received as royalty.
They set off for the continent in 1775, taking with them the infant Princess Sophia and a considerable retinue. Maria was again pregnant and in the Teodoli Palace in Rome, Maria gave birth to her son, Prince William Frederick. His sponsors at the baptism were the Duke and Duchess of Saxe and Gotha and the Margrave of Anspach.
All was well for the next year and a half until the Duke fell gravely ill in Venice where the damp heat affected his health. In 1777, the Duke and Duchess accompanied by their two children, arrived back in England. However, the King would still not accept Maria even though she had been received by the Courts abroad. George III was unrelenting. He would never accept her and those who wished to be received by him never went to her parties lest they should lose the friendship of the King.
Some of the Duke’s youthful infatuation for Maria had begun to wane, for by 1780 he had formed an attachment to Lady Almeria Carpenter, one of his Wife’s ladies-in-waiting. Almeria gave birth to a daughter in January 1781, and she was passed off as the daughter of the Duke’s steward.
The Duke had realised for some time the disadvantages of marriage to Maria. These were brought home to him when the question of the vacant post of Commander-in-Chief was nearly offered to him. He wanted it and was well suited for the position but there remained the embarrassing situation of the Duchess who could not be received at Court.
Not surprisingly, by this time, the Duke and Duchess were estranged and the Duke was writing to both the King and the Prince of Wales, informing them of his grievances against his wife. He wanted to take the children out of her control and asked the King for the appointment of someone to attend to his daughter and keep her clear of the Duchess. Princess Sophia was then fourteen and described by her father as having “exceedingly good parts and very well inclined and will be a great comfort to me when she is properly advised.”
The Duchess’ chief preoccupation and pleasure was the company of her two youngest children, Sophia and William. The Duke, however, adhered to his plan of not allowing their mother to see too much of them and there does seem to be some grounds for his attitude. A letter from Maria’s daughter Horatia, to her eldest sister, Laura, contains the line “…..the Dss began telling such long and indecent stories ….. and nothing could stop her from the moment till she went to bed.” Maria may have picked up this habit of conversation when she was abroad but in her old age she was considered a very decorous lady.
The Duchess was still giving evening parties supported by her three married daughters but which the Duke seldom attended. Although they dined together, he breakfasted alone with his children. Some years before, he had bought the other large house on St Leonard’s Hill which is supposed to stand on the site of the Hermitage. This he renamed Sophia Farm after his daughter but she hardly used it and New Lodge in Windsor Forest was her home.
In 1805 the Duke of Gloucester fell seriously ill and on 6th August died aged 62. In a draft will made in 1791 he left to Maria “all her jewels, ornaments, paraphernalia, and all things belonging to her for her own absolute use”, and, as he had not the means for making suitable provision for her, he recommends her to the attention and benevolence of his brother and Sovereign. All else he left to William and Sophia and they were appointed co-executors. He was buried in the Gloucester vault in St George’s Chapel.
Directly after the death of the Duke, his widow went to live in Brompton where she renamed her dwelling house, Gloucester Lodge. It is from this house that the busy thoroughfare, Gloucester Road takes its name. Her beloved Sophia lived there with her and Prince William visited her regularly. Maria had marvellously good health all her life which probably accounted for her radiant good looks, But in 1807 she was taken ill and within three days she became worse and died suddenly and unexpectedly aged 72. The funeral took place at Windsor on 31st August 1807. It was conducted in the same style as that of her husband and she, too, was buried in the Gloucester vault in St George’s Chapel.
Some of the newspapers, when reporting her death and funeral mentioned her humble origins. Other newspapers rebuked them for doing so and commented on her dignified forebearance towards her enemies.
Her son William had succeeded to the title of Duke of Gloucester but it is the nick-name of “Silly Billy” which has clung so persistently to him. Among his contemporaries he was mainly noted for his pomposity and for standing on his dignity about trifles. He had little tact when young and like his uncle, George III was “never a moment silent”. Some of his sensitivity could have been a direct result of the insults which his mother had put up with. He married his cousin, Princess Mary, daughter of George III, when she was 40 years old and there were no descendants of this marriage. Maria’s youngest daughter, Princess Sophia never married and spent a rather solitary existence especially after her brother died in 1834.
Sheila Rooney
Additional Notes
The Royal Marriages Act 1772
George III demanded action to preserve the dignity of the Royal family. By the Royal Marriages Act, members of the Royal family, as defined in a Royal message, were unable to contract valid marriages unless they had the King’s consent declared in council, and signified under the great seal, unless they were over 25 years of age and had given twelve month’s notice to the privy council.
Suggested further reading:
Biddulf, Violet The Three Ladies Waldegrave Peter Davies 1938
Windsor Local History Group 