Maria, Duchess Of Gloucester And Edinburgh

Maria, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (née Walpole), was born on July 10, 1736, and died on August 22, 1807. She was a member of the British royal family by marriage. Her maiden surname was Walpole, and she held the title Countess Waldegrave from 1759 to 1766 following her marriage to James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave. In 1766, she married Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, conferring upon her the title Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh.

Early Life:

Maria Walpole was the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Walpole and Dorothy Clement. Her grandfather was Robert Walpole, who is widely regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, serving from 1721 to 1741. She was raised at Frogmore House, located in Windsor. Due to her illegitimate status and her parents' unmarried union, her social standing was limited despite her close familial connections.

Marriage to James Waldegrave:

On May 15, 1759, Maria married James Waldegrave, the 2nd Earl Waldegrave, at a residence in Pall Mall, London. The marriage ceremony was officiated by Frederick Keppel, who later became the Bishop of Exeter. Witnesses included her father, Sir Edward Walpole, and his brother, Horace Walpole. James Waldegrave died on April 28, 1763. The marriage produced three children:

- Lady Elizabeth Waldegrave (1760–1816), who married her first cousin, the 4th Earl Waldegrave.

- Lady Charlotte Waldegrave (1761–1808), who married the future 4th Duke of Grafton.

- Lady Anne Horatia Waldegrave (1762–1801), who married Lord Hugh Seymour. Their descendants include notable figures such as Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer; Diana, Princess of Wales; William, Prince of Wales; and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Prior to her marriage, there are reports that Maria Walpole was privately engaged to Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster, as evidenced by her mourning attire following his dissolute lifestyle.

Artistic Depictions:

A portrait of Maria, dating from 1764–65 and created by Sir Joshua Reynolds shortly after her widowing, exists in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Additionally, in 1780, she commissioned Reynolds to paint "The Ladies Waldegrave," a group portrait of herself and her three daughters.

Courtship and Relationship After First Marriage:

Following her husband's death, Maria was courted by William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland. She notably refused his proposal, which caused society scandal.

Marriage to Prince William Henry:

On September 6, 1766, Maria married Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, in a secret ceremony at her residence in Pall Mall, London. The Duke was the brother of King George III. The secret nature of the marriage was due to the royal family's disapproval, as the marriage was between a prince and a widowed commoner of illegitimate birth. The couple resided at St Leonard's Hill in Clewer, near Windsor. They had three children:

- Princess Sophia of Gloucester (1773–1844)

- Princess Caroline of Gloucester (1774–1775), who died aged nine months after smallpox inoculation

- Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1776–1834)

The marriage's validity was confirmed in September 1772, several months after the passage of the Royal Marriages Act 1772. The Act required descendants of George II to seek the sovereign's approval for marriage but did not retroactively void existing marriages. Despite her marriage's legality, Maria was not received at court due to her status and her marriage's secretive nature.