Anna Russell, Duchess Of Bedford

Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford (née Stanhope), was born on 3 September 1783 and died on 3 July 1857. She was the daughter of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington, and Jane Fleming. In 1808, she married Francis Russell, who later became the 7th Duke of Bedford, and thus she became the Duchess of Bedford in 1839 upon her husband's accession to the dukedom. She was also the sister-in-law of John Russell, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her son was William Russell, who became the 8th Duke of Bedford.

Anna Maria Stanhope maintained a lifelong friendship with Queen Victoria. Between 1837 and 1841, she served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen.

In approximately 1840, the Duchess is credited by the British Museum with the invention of the custom of afternoon tea. According to the narrative, during a period of industrialization and urbanization, the evening meal was being delayed, and lunch was earlier in the day. The Duchess purportedly experienced a "sinking feeling" during this interval and requested that tea, bread and butter, and cake be brought to her in the late afternoon. This practice allegedly led to the establishment of the afternoon tea ritual. However, this account has been contested and lacks definitive verification.

The Duchess and her husband hosted Queen Victoria at Woburn Abbey, their country residence, in 1841. She was also the chief mourner at the funeral of Princess Augusta Sophia in 1840. Following the purported invention of the afternoon tea ritual, the Duchess began inviting friends to participate. Due to the social circles involved, the custom gained royal approval when Queen Victoria adopted it. By the 1880s, the Queen routinely held official tea receptions at her palaces.

Anna Maria Russell died in 1857 and was interred in the Bedford chapel at Chenies in Buckinghamshire.