Maria Walpole was the daughter of Edward Walpole and Dorothy Clement, and granddaughter of Robert Walpole considered the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She was born at St James, Westminster on 10th July 1736. Her parents were not married and her illegitimate status hindered her social status in the early parts of her life. She grew up Frogmore House, Windsor.

On 15th May 1759 she married her first husband James Waldergrave, 2nd Earl of Waldergrave, the son of James Waldergrave, 1st Earl of Waldergrave and Mary Webbe. After her marriage she was styled The Countess of Waldergrve. The Earl and Countess had three daughters.

The Lady Elizabeth Laura Waldergrave (1760-1816) – who married her cousin the 4th Earl of Waldergrave.

The Lady Charlotte Maria Waldergrave (1761-1808) – who married the 4th Duke of Grafton

The Lady Anna Horatia Waldergrave (1762-1801) – who married the Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour. Anna and Hugh were the four time great-grandparents of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Earl Waldergrave died on 28th April 1763 died leaving the Countess a widow with three young daughters. Her uncle, Horace Walpole rented Ragman’s Castle in Twikenham for Maria and her daughters.

She remarried on 6th September 1766 to Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester at her home in Pall Mall, London. The Duke was the third son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and brother to George III. The marriage was conducted in secret as the royal family would not of approved of the marriage to a illegitimate widow of non royal status. When the Duke’s other brother, the Duke of Cumberland married a commoner the Royal Marriages Act 1772 was passed meaning that all descendants of George II had to seek the sovereign’s permission to marry. Five months after the act was passed the king found out regarding the marriage, but because it took place before the act was passed the marriage was recognised as legal by Parliament. Maria, then became styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh. George II was stated to be angered by the marriage and the secrecy of it and due to this she was never received in court. They lived together at St Lenard’s Hill in Clewer near Windsor.

The Price and Duchess had three children.

Princess Sophia of Gloucester (1773-1844)

Princess Carolina Augusta Maria of Gloucester (1774-1775). Carolina died aged nine months after complications of small pox inoculation

Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1776-1834). Married his cousin Princess Mary, the daughter of King George III

Maria died on 2nd August 1807, at Oxford Lodge, Brompton in Middlesex. She was interred in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.