by Scott Mehl

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Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford

Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford, served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1880 until 1883. She was born Lady Elizabeth Sackville-West, 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. And her brother Reginald served as Chaplain to Queen Victoria from 1846 to 1865.

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:

She 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, Elizabeth served as Acting Mistress of the Robes, although she was not formally appointed.

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 actually 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 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

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