Elizabeth, Duchess of Bedford, VA (3rd class) (23 September 1818-22 April 1897) was born Elizabeth Sackville-West, daughter of the 5th Earl De La Warr. She acted as a bridesmaid at the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on 10 February 1840. On 18 June 1844 she was married to Francis Russell, a grandson of the late 6th Duke of Bedford and nephew of Lord John Russell, the Whig politician and future Prime Minister. Francis Russell succeeded his cousin as 9th Duke of Bedford in 1872. Elizabeth was appointed Mistress of the Robes to the Queen by Mr Gladstone in 1880, and served in that capacity until 1883. In 1886, Gladstone's policy of Home Rule had alienated many of the aristocrats in the Liberal Party, and no lady of suitable (i.e., ducal) rank could be found who was willing to serve as Mistress of the Robes. The Duchess of Bedford performed the duties of the office for the duration of the ministry, but was not appointed to the post by Gladstone.
September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1818 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Right Honourable George John Sackville-West, 5th Earl de la Warr PC (October 26, 1791–February 23, 1869) was the son of John West, 4th Earl De La Warr. ... A young bridesmaid at a wedding in Thornbury Castle, South Gloucestershire, England A bridesmaid is a girl or young woman who attends to the bride during or after a wedding or marriage ceremony. ... This article is about the Queen Regnant of the United Kingdom. ... Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha ( 26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861 ) was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Most Noble Sir Francis Charles Hastings Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford KG (October 16, 1819–January 14, 1891) was the son of Maj. ... John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (6 July 1766 - 20 October 1839) was a younger son of the Marquess of Tavistock (eldest son and heir of the 4th Duke of Bedford who had died during the lifetime of his father). ... John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (August 18, 1792 – May 28, 1878), known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was a British Whig and Liberal statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century. ... This article is about the British Whig party. ... In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... The titles of Earl or Duke of Bedford were created several times in the peerage of England. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone (29 December 1809–19 May 1898) was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister (1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886 and 1892–1894). ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the 1920s, and a third party of varying strength and importance up to 1988, when it merged with the Social Democratic Party to form a new party which would become known as... The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and France (in Italy...

The Mistress of the Robes is the senior lady of the British Royal Household. ... Anne Emily, Duchess of Roxburghe (14 November 1854-20 June 1923) was born Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill, and was the daughter of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, who served in Conservative governments as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. ... Louisa Jane Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch and Duchess of Queensberry, VA (3rd class) (26 August 1836-20 March 1912) was born Lady Louisa Jane Russell, daughter of the 6th Duke of Bedford. ... The Mistress of the Robes is the senior lady of the British Royal Household. ... Louisa Jane Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch and Duchess of Queensberry, VA (3rd class) (26 August 1836-20 March 1912) was born Lady Louisa Jane Russell, daughter of the 6th Duke of Bedford. ...