Who was the 7th Duchess of Bedford? — Dragonfly Delights Tea Room

The Duchess of Bedford

Born Anna Maria Stanhope, on the 3rd of September 1783 in Portugal, our creator of Afternoon tea married Francis Russel the 7th Duke of Bedford in 1808 at the age of 25.

Anna Maria had been one of Queen Victoria’s ladies in-waiting. The Duchess had the high title then of “Lady of the Bedchamber” (1783-1857)

Anna’s mother, Jane Stanhope, Countess of Harrington (née Fleming; 23 May 1755 – 3 February 1824), was a society hostess and heiress who served as a lady of the Bedchamber to the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Reading about her on the always truthful Wikipedia was most fascinating.

Reading about Anna’s father, Charles Stanhope, included extensive military involvement while her husband, Francis Russel, the 7th Duke of Bedford was in politics.

Anna had one son William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford (1 July 1809 – 27 May 1872). My reading revealed that William was unmarried thus childless. So how did the Duke title carry on I asked myself…

Side note the school I attended for kindergarten was named Willian Russel !

Francis Charles Hastings Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford KG (16 October 1819 – 14 January 1891) was an English politician and agriculturalist. He succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his cousin William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford, and took his place in the House of Lords. There is my answer.

My reading followed the 6th Duke John, 7th Duke Francis, 8th Duke William, 9th Duke Francis, 10th Duke George, 11th Duke Herbrand, 12th Duke Hastings, 13th Duke Ian, 14th Duke Robin and today the 15th Duke Of Bedford is Andrew Ian Henry Russel

On 16 October 2000, at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, Lord Howland (as Andrew then was) married Louise Rona Crammond, daughter of Donald Ian Crammond and Rona Zara Clifford-Johns

They have two children, Lady Alexandra Lucy Clare Russell (b. 9 July 2001) and Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (b. 7 June 2005)

Before Louise was married she worked in an advertising agency. It is said that she is friendly, unstuffy and fizzing with energy.

My curiosity lead me to listing all the names of all the Duchesses along side the Dukes.

Elizabeth Howland (1682–1724), wife of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford

Anne Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Lady Anne Egerton) (c.1705–1762), wife of Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford

Diana Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Lady Diana Spencer) (1710–1735), 1st wife of John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford

Hon. Gertrude Russell, Duchess of Bedford (1715-1794), 2nd wife of John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford

Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Lady Georgiana Gordon) (1781–1853), 2nd wife of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford

*Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Anna Maria Stanhope) (1783–1857), wife of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford

Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Lady Elizabeth Sackville-West) (1818–1897), wife of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford

Adeline Marie Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Lady Adeline Marie Somers) (1852–1920), wife of George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford

Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Mary du Caurroy Tribe) (1865–1937), wife of Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford

Louisa Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Louisa Whitwell) (1893–1960), wife of Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford

Lydia Lyle (1917–2006), 2nd wife of Ian Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford

Nicole Russell, Duchess of Bedford (Nicole Milinaire) (1920–2012), 3rd wife of Ian Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford

Henrietta Russell, Duchess of Bedford (b.1940) (née Henrietta Joan Tiarks), wife of Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford

Louise Rona Crammond (b.1962), wife of Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford

If Anna the Duchess was born in 1783, the history says Afternoon tea was popularize around 1840 then Anna was 57 years old when she was taking bread, butter, and tea into her bed chamber late afternoon.

Then I imagine a subsequent conversation with a lady friend offering advice on how to survive the famish that would happen between lunch to the very late, late dinner. Then this suggestion spreads, grows in popularity and becomes what we know today as afternoon tea.

All of the teatime accessories, the fancy tea gowns, the etiquette tha we have today began because of a rumbly in a tumbly as Winnie the Pooh would say.

It is bewildering how my brain can jump from one thought to the next. Then back again and onto a completely different direction. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon of sipping tea and reading what Wikipedia had to share about all these Dukes and Duchesses.

If you have an afternoon I would encourage you to sit with your pot of delicious tea and google search, hit the links, read the scandalous stories, the amazing accomplishments and tales. Most entertaining. My favourite stories were of Anna the 7th Duchess of Bedford’s mother, Jane Stanhope, most inspiring.

I began this with explaining how Anna the 7th Duchess of Bedford created afternoon tea and finished with who is the duchess today? and how can I invite Louise Duchess of Bedford to come for tea with us?